§ 11. Mr. GEORGE ROBERTSasked the President of the Board of Trade what powers are possessed to secure that sugar shall be sold at a price fixed by the Royal Commission; whether he is aware that in Stornoway practically all the grocers are selling sugar at 4½d. per pound, although the price fixed by the Commission is 3½d.; whether he is aware that by charging this price the retailers are making about 50 per cent. profit; and whether action will be taken to put a stop to this imposition on the purchasing public?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. McKenna)The President of the Board of Trade has asked me to reply to this question. The Royal Commission can only recommend the prices which they consider may reasonably be charged for sugar. I am informed that the price of granulated sugar in Stornoway is 4d. per pound. In estimating whether such a price is reasonable in relation to the general price through the country of 3½d. per pound, regard must be had to the cost of carriage to Stornoway.