§ 14. Mr. KILEYasked how many Reports have been published as the result of investigations into prices, costs and profits by the Central Committee and sub-committees set up under the Profiteering Act; what have been the main recommendations of the Report in each case; and in how many cases these recommendations have been carried out?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEEleven Reports of investigations by the Standing Committee on Prices of the Central Committee, or by Sub-committees of the Standing Committee on Prices, into prices, costs and profits have been published, besides two Reports of investigations by a joint Sub-committee of the Standing Committees on Prices and Trusts. I am sending my hon. Friend copies of these Reports, which have been presented to Parliament, and he will see that in the great majority of cases no recommendations for specific action are made, but the findings are mainly on questions of fact. Recommendations for specific action are contained in the Reports of the Matches Sub-committee and the Motor Fuel Sub-committee. The Matches Report recommended that efforts should be made to secure adequate supplies of suitable timber for the matchmaking industry; and the attention of the Departments concerned has been drawn to this recommendation. The Motor Fuel Report, among other recommendations, suggested that maximum prices should be fixed, that the Government should control production and distribution, and that every possible means should be used to foster the production 1312 of power alcohol and facilitate its distribution. With regard to the question of action on these recommendations, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 21st October to the hon. Member for East Nottingham.
§ Mr. KILEYArising out of the answer which I did not hear, are we to understand that the recommendations of these various committees have been acted upon?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEAs I have stated, the majority of the Reports do not contain any recommendations of specific action. In two cases in which specific action was recommended the Departments concerned have been notified in one case, and the other case was dealt with fully in the answer to my hon. Friend a few days ago.