§ 49. Mr. BECKERasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the recent increased prices of butter and bacon charged by the retailer to the public, he will consider the advisability of obtaining powers to institute inquiries into the prices charged by the producer, the profit made by the middleman, and the profit made by the retailer, with a view to getting the cost of these essential commodities reduced to the public?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Buxton)The question of the disparity between the prices received by producers and those paid by consumers was very fully investigated last year by the Linlithgow Committee, whose final Report was recently issued. The Ministry maintains close touch with movements in the prices of agricultural produce.
§ Mr. BECKERIn view of the fact that the Linlithgow Committee's Report states, in effect, that the Minister is to keep a constant watch on prices and bring pressure on the retailer to give fair value to the consumer, and in view of the reductions of the price of tea and sugar as a result of the Budget, can the Minister explain how it is that prices of butter and bacon have gone up?