§ 5. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can report any progress in his investigations into the price of beer charged to the public; and whether he is looking into the profits made by the majority of brewery companies during the last few years in the course of these investigations?
§ Mr. BALDWINThe inquiry has not yet been completed. So far as it has gone, and subject to any corrections which may be necessary as the consequence of further inquiries, the results include the following:
The margin between the cost of brewing beer, including the duty, and its cost as delivered to consumers by retailers has, since the Armistice, been about 50 per cent. greater than it was before the War. Considering the general increase in the cost of goods and services, I do not regard the increased margin as excessive. There was a decrease in the cost of brewing materials to the brewer in 1921, as compared with 1920, but, owing to the greater gravity of the beer brewed in 1921, the increase of duty per bulk barrel more than offset the reduction in cost of materials. With regard to the last part of the question, the investigation is proceeding.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYCan the right hon. Gentleman give any idea when the final Report will be laid, or his final conclusions arrived at?
§ Mr. BALDWINI would not like to name a date, but I do not think it will be long.