§ 80. Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Minister of Food whether his attention has been called to the fact that the retailer under the present fixed prices only gets 1s. 0½d. profit on a bottle of whisky retailed at 12s. 6d., i.e., 8 per cent., which is not enough to cover his working expenses; and whether, in view of the above, he will now take off the control from the price of whisky?
§ Colonel GIBBSI would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the reply given on 4th May to the hon. Member for East Grinstead. The last adjustment of the prices of spirits was determined by the increased duty as set forth in the Budget. In the answer which the Food Controller gave on 4th May he stated that if any readjustment of the inter-trade prices were put forward and agreed to by the trade, he would be willing to consider the advisability of any amendment of the intermediary scales of prices, but he has received no reply to this offer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member had better give notice of that question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not stop the hon. and gallant Member giving notice of it, in the absence of the Minister.