§ 33. Mr. BRIANTasked the Minister of Health if inquiry will be made as to the increased cost of building houses owing to the operations of an association which prevents competition in the price of builders' materials, and compels builders' merchants to maintain a fixed minimum price regardless of any reduction in cost to them?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Auckland Geddes)I have been asked to reply. I am not aware of the association referred to in the question, and I shall be grateful if the hon. Member will supply me with particulars, so that inquiries may be made. The Profiteering Act has been applied to all the principal building materials, and investigations are at present being made by the Central Committee into the questions governing the cost of building materials.