Item 2 - Cost of living

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In a reference to the Disney film Fantasia, Anthony Barber (see below) is dressed as a wizard and asleep on a chair that floats in an underground pool; the water has "Cost of living" written on it; in one of the two visible entrances to the pool (sort of arched tunnels with descending stairs) can be seen the shadow of Ted Heath; coming down the other staircase are three walking mops, each carrying two buckets of water, labelled "Prices commission", "Banks" and "Building societies".

News: 7 Aug: The Price Commission reminded banks and finance houses that they needed to send in details of profits on their business that does not earn interest, to include fees, commissions and charges to account-holders.

[Barber was appointed as Chancellor of the Exchequer by Edward Heath in 1970, and oversaw a major liberalisation of the banking system, tax reform, and also a relaxation of exchange controls. During his term the economy suffered due to stagflation and industrial unrest, including a miners strike which led to the Three-Day Week. In 1972 he delivered a budget which was designed to return the Conservatives to power in an election expected in 1974 or 1975. This budget led to a period known as "The Barber Boom". The measures in the budget led to high inflation and wage demands from public sector workers. He was forced to introduce anti-inflation measures, along with a Prices Commission and a Pay Board. - source: Wikipedia]