asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of complaints, prosecutions and convictions under the Prices Acts since January, 1968.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices Legislation.
90.
Since January, 1968, approximately 500 complaints about prices have been received by my Department. The majority were made by telephone and many of these were settled immediately, as there was a satisfactory explanation of the matter raised.
In the same period there was only one case where the evidence gave grounds for a prosecution under the Prices Acts and this case was dismissed in Court "on the merits". I should add that it is very seldom necessary to have resort to legal proceedings in the matter of complaints about prices, since such complaints are almost invariably resolved satisfactorily as a result of investigation.
91.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the date on which present prices stabilisation legislation will end.
The main powers of price control operated by me at present derive from the Prices Stabilisation Order, 1965, which was made by the Government under the Prices (Amendment) Act, 1965. This Order had a life of six months but it has been renewed at six-monthly intervals by Continuance Orders. The Present Continuance Order will expire on the 6th April, 1969, and the necessity for a further Continuance Order will be considered by the Government before that date having regard to economic circumstances at that time.
92.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number of price increases permitted under the Prices Stabilisation Order in the last two years.
Price increases proposals, of which I was notified under the Prices Stabilisation Order, 1965, and to which I raised no objection, numbered 545 in the last two years.