§ 17. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Home Secretary whether the Royal Commission on the Sugar Supply or the agents thereof have ceased purchasing sugar; and whether he will state the total quantity of sugar at present in the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. McKENNAI do not think that it would be in the public interest to answer this question at the present time.
§ Mr. McKENNAThe price of sugar in this country is no greater than in any other country in the world, but I should have been extremely glad if the general prices of sugar dropped.
§ Mr. LOUGHCan the right hon. Gentleman state when he will furnish the Report which he has so often promised to the House?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am entirely in the hands of the House as to when a Debate takes place on the subject.
§ 18. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that steamers carrying sugar, purchased by the Royal Commission or the agents thereof, experienced delay in discharging their cargoes in ports of the United Kingdom; and will he state whether the owners of steamers have in any instances been paid demurrage either by the Royal Commission or the consignees for the detention their steamers experienced in discharging their cargoes of sugar?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe reply to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. Claims for demurrage have in certain cases been made on the Commission; but in no case has a claim been admitted, 812 unless the delay in discharge was attributable in a material and direct degree to the action of the Commission in respect of the particular cargo concerned.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the House to understand that the refusal of the right hon. Gentleman to give particulars and to make reports arises from a desire to shield the mistakes and blunders made by the Sugar Commission?
§ Mr. McKENNAI answered the question entirely.
§ Mr. HOUSTONI am referring to the previous question.
§ 46. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that, simultaneously with an advance in the price of bread in Cardiff, Messrs. Spillers and Bakers, the Cardiff milling firm, have issued a balance sheet showing a profit of £367,865, as against £89,352 for the previous year; whether he is aware that food prices are still rising; and whether, in the light of what is happening, the Government propose taking action in regard to food and coal prices?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Acland)I must refer my hon. Friend to the answer which will be given later to Question No. 60 addressed to the President of the Board of Trade by the hon. Member for Blackburn.
§ 66. Mr. SUTTONasked, having regard to the cost of living at the present time, and especially the price of bread charged to the poor people of this country, whether he can introduce legislation at an early date to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee of this House on short weight?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. J. M. Robertson)I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a question on this subject asked on the 25th November last by my right hon. Friend the Member for West Islington, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. SUTTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that large numbers of local authorities in this country are most anxious that greater powers should be given to prosecute the exploiters of the poor on this question?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONThere is a considerable difference among local authorities on this point, as I pointed out in a recent answer.
§ Mr. SUTTONIs it not a fact that the Board have had a large number of requisitions from local authorities on this matter, asking that something should be done?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONI will send my hon. Friend a copy of an answer recently given to a similar question.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYDoes the Secretary to the Board of Trade realise that the 5th of November is five months ago?
§ 72. Mr. PARTINGTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture, whether, in view of the high price of meat, he will consider the advisability of prohibiting the slaughter of calves and lambs?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Sir Harry Verney)I cannot at present say more than that the Board have for some time past been giving this question their close attention in consultation with the Scottish and Irish Departments.
§ 73. Mr. HOUSTONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Agriculture whether, in view of the public statement made by the Board that purchases of wheat on behalf of the Government ceased some time ago, he will now state whether the individuals or firms employed by the Government as their agents or brokers to effect purchases of wheat either bought or sold wheat on their own account during the period that they were acting for the Government; whether he will state the scale of commissions and the total amount of commissions paid to these Government agents; and whether these Government agents also chartered tonnage for the conveyance of such Government purchases?
§ Sir H. VERNEYI can add nothing to recent reply which I gave to the hon. Member on this subject.
§ Mr. HOUSTONAm I to understand from the hon. Gentleman refusing to give particulars that the same objectionable features appertain to the purchase of wheat which characterised the purchase of timber?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONNo, certainly not.
§ 57. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the price of household bread in Liverpool on 22nd April was not 8d. for 4 lbs. but 9d., or a small fraction either under or over 9d.; and whether, in view of the fact that ocean freights from the Argentine to France are from 2s. 6d. to 5s. per ton higher than to this country, he can now explain why bread is cheaper in Paris, which is an inland city, than in Liverpool, which is a seaport?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONThe price quoted for bread in Liverpool is the predominant price, and this price on 22nd April was correctly stated as 8d. per 4 lbs. On the same date the predominant price in Paris was 7¾d. per 4 lbs. I cannot say how far—if at all—this difference corresponds to a difference of quality, or how far it is due to other causes, but I may point out that the cost of production of bread is affected by a variety of factors other than the price of Hour.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWill the hon. Gentleman state why the price of bread in Dublin is 8d. while the people in London are charged 10d.?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONI shall have to make inquiry, and the hon. and learned Member had better put down a question.
§ Mr. HOUSTONOwing to the mystery surrounding Government purchase, and the uncertainty of their action, is it not a fact that merchants are ceasing to procure importations into this country, and that as a consequence there is a diminution in the supply and there is an increase in price; and can he say what action will be taken by the Government to reduce prices?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONAll those questions are under special consideration by the Board.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYHow long will they remain under special consideration?
§ 60. Mr. SNOWDENasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that I the prices of corn and flour continue to rise, and that leading dealers in these commodities are declaring that prices will rise higher still; if he is aware that a firm of millers has just declared a profit of £367,865 for last year, compared with a profit of but £89,352 for the previous year; and, in view of the hardship inflicted on 815 the poor by these profits, made by exploiting the necessities of the people, will he take immediate steps to deal with the problem?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONI have seen the figures to which my hon. Friend refers, but I do not think that the high price of flour is really attributable to extravagant profits made by the firm in question. As my hon. Friend is aware, favourable forward contracts for the purchase of grain during a period of rising prices may yield large profits to a particular firm, even though the price at which they sell their flour is determined by the competition of other firms who meet their current requirements by purchases of wheat at current rates. The question of the best means of restraining the prices of necessaries without endangering their supply is receiving constant and anxious attention.
§ Mr. T. M. HEALYWhat we want to know is—this is a serious matter—how long this gang is to be allowed to sweat the faces of the poor, while the common people are giving their blood for the country. Why are the Government not taking any action in this matter?
§ Mr. CROOKSWhen are the Government Departments going to cease apologising for this robbery?
§ 63. Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to pressure brought to bear by wholesale milk dealers upon retail dealers in London, by which an attempt is being made to compel all retail dealers to sell milk at 4½d. per quart, even when they desire to sell it at 4d.; and whether he has taken any steps to prevent such an agreement amongst wholesale firms to force up prices from being imposed upon retailers?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONI am not aware that retailers generally have been subjected to pressure of the character stated in the question, and I understand that the price of milk has not been raised to 4½d. per quart in all parts of London. Careful consideration is, however, being given to the matter, and the Board of Trade are in communication with representatives of the milk distributing trade.
§ Mr. RAMSAY MACDONALDHas not the hon. Gentleman received documents proving the statement I make?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONThe document to which the hon. Member refers, I presume, is one that indicates that a rise has taken place in some parts. As I have stated, the Board are in communication with the representatives of the milk distributing trade at this moment.
§ Lord ROBERT CECILWill the Government consider, if these charges are true, whether they cannot take proceedings either under the Defence of the Realm Act or under the old Statutes?
§ Mr. ROBERTSONPerhaps the Noble Lord will give me notice of that.