§ 61. Mr. HOUSTONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can state the average price charged for a sack of flour by the Co-operative Flour Mill Company (Co-operative Wholesale Society, Limited), at Bristol, to their members and societies during the past month, and the average price or prices millers charged bakers in the same area or district for a similar sack of flour during the same period?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. Runciman)At present I have not the information desired, but I will see if it can be obtained.
§ Mr. HOUSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many bakers in a small way of business are in danger of having to close their shops by reason of the high price, and that it is notorious that in many instances millers have made enormous profits out of the necessities of the poor?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI do not know what the position of small bakers is, but we are keeping in touch with the large baking houses.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the working classes of this country are being exploited to the extent of £700,000 a week in consequence of the high price of flour and bread, while the increase of wages last month were £72,000 a week?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI could not give a definite answer to a question based on those figures without notice.