§ 42. Sir EDWIN STOCKTONasked the Minister of Health whether he will consider the desirability of printing and circulating, for the benefit of those building houses under the new Government 2038 proposals, a complete list of prices of materials which can be regarded as average and fair and whether he will further consider the desirability of issuing such a list, weekly, so that the pubic may know what fluctuations there are and be able to ascertain why they are suggested?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI doubt whether any good purpose would be served by attempting to issue a weekly price list. The fluctuation in prices of materials will be considered by the Committee set up for that purpose, and their reports as to the facts will be published from time to time.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that since the Government proposed its housing scheme, the cost of materials has jumped up about 10 to 12 per cent.?
§ Mr. LINFIELDIs it intended to give the Committee any power to fix prices, or merely to report when they go up?
§ Mr. TURNERWould they have power to imprison these people who raise prices?
§ 63. Mr. AMMONasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been directed to the action of the Cement and other Building Materials Trades Association in endeavouring to prevent the Public Authorities Mutual Supplies, Limited, which is a company formed upon: a mutual basis, from obtaining materials for the use of public authorities at fair prices so as to enable houses to be built and public works to be carried out at a. lower cost; and if he will consult the Law Officers of the Crown as to what proceedings, criminal or otherwise, can be taken to prevent, trade rings and combinations from unduly inflating the cost of necessary materials for these purposes?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have no information on the point raised in the first-part of the question. With regard to the second part, it will be one of the functions of the Committee I am setting up to report as to the extent to which in any case the price of building materials 2039 appears to be unduly high by reason of the operation of any trade combination, and in the light of the Committee's reports, the Government will consider whether any action is necessary, and, if so, on what lines.