§ 8. Mr. WATERSONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that the work of the Central Committee appointed under the Profiteering Acts of 1919 and 1920 will 1503 come to an end on 19th May, steps will be taken to act upon the recommendation repeated in several of the Reports issued by the Committee and its Sub-committees, by means of legislation, to provide for the protection of the consumer against any operations by trusts, combines, and monopolies detrimental to the great body of consumers?
44. Major BARNESasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the hardships that must follow on reductions in wages that are not accompanied by falls in prices, the Government will reconsider its decision not to take legislative action this Session against those trusts, combines, and trade associations which after investigation by the Central Profiteering Committee have been declared to be instruments for maintaining and raising prices and thereby the cost of living?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMEI cannot usefully add anything to the answer which I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Newcastle East on the 14th April and to the earlier statement which I made on the 9th March in the Debate on the Vote on Account.
§ Mr. WATERSONMay I assume from the reply that when the Profiteering Acts are completely eliminated it is the intention of the Government to simply ignore the recommendations of the Sub-committees appointed under the Profiteering Acts?
§ Sir P. LLOYD-GREAMENo, Sir, the hon. Gentleman must certainly not understand any such thing.
Major BARNESAre we to under stand from the answer of the hon. Gentleman that, while the Government are prepared to use the forces of the Crown to bring down wages—[HON. MEMBERS: "Withdraw!"]—they are not prepared to use the authority of this House to protect people against unreasonable profits?
§ Mr. SPEAKERNotice of a question of that kind should have appeared on the Paper.