§ 53. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that the price of the quartern loaf in London has been advanced to 9d.; whether he is aware that 1643 since the beginning of the War the price of a sack of flour has risen from 27s. to 53s.; whether he still anticipates a substantial fall in prices in June; and whether the Government is now prepared to reconsider its policy on this question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI am aware of the advances in the price of bread and of flour to which my hon. Friend refers. I doubt whether there is any adequate reason for altering the policy hitherto adopted in regard to the regulation of the price of bread. I think my hon. Friend will agree that it is premature at the moment to attempt a definite forecast of the course of prices in June.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEIs not the high price of bread and flour partly due to the fact that there is a large number of British ships which could be made available for bringing food to this country but are engaged on voyages between neutral ports?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI should like notice.
§ Mr. SNOWDENWhy should it not have been considered premature to speak about the price in June, when the right hon. Gentleman did so, and it should be considered premature to speak about prices three or four weeks hence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERBecause of the difference between four months and one month.