§ Sir WALTER de FRECE(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the rise in the price of so many articles of popular consumption, which entail a serious increase in the cost of living, he is emphasising upon the Food Council the desirability of expediting its investigation, even if it has to appoint subcommittees?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERInquiries by the Food Council necessarily involve investigation into costs of production and distribution. Owing to the dislocation and abnormal conditions arising out of the general strike and the coal stoppage, the Council thought it advisable to postpone for a time inquiries which they had in hand, in the expectation that they would be able to resume those inquiries within a reasonable time under relatively normal conditions. When, however, it was seen that the stoppage in the coal industry was likely to continue, the Council resumed their work. They have recently submitted a report on tea and a preliminary report on milk, and they are actively prosecuting their further inquiries into three important commodities, viz., meat, flour and milk. The Council have full power to appoint subcommittees if they think it desirable. I think I ought to add that the increase which has taken place in the cost of living is not accounted for by rises in food prices, apart from certain seasonal increases, which are of regular occurrence. As a matter of fact, the retail food prices index figure on 1st October, is 11 points below the general cost of living figure, whereas this time last year it was only four points lower.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether the Food Council in its recent Report referred to the fact that in respect of the price of milk the 541 people of London, outside the co-operative societies, have had to pay one penny per quart more during the month of September; and can he also say whether the Food Council or the Government propose to take any action in order to prevent it?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think the very effective Report of the Food Council is the best way of ensuring that the price will not rise next September.
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe Sub-Committee, which has been dealing with many of these subjects, is sitting very regularly.
§ Mr. W. THORNEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the London master bakers have decided to increase the price of bread to 10d. a loaf to-day? Can he give the reasons for this? And is he aware that the co-operative societies have refused to make any increase?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like to have notice of that question. I may remind the hon. Member that in an earlier report of the Food Council a list and scale of prices are given and the relative increases between flour and bread. I think they have been generally observed since the Food Council made its report.
§ Mr. THORNEDo I understand that they are working on the law of supply and demand?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think they are mostly working on the law of supply and demand.
§ Sir WALTER de FRECEHow many sub committees have been appointed?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI should like to have notice of that question. The Food Council is a comparatively small body, and most of their investigations have been carried out by one sub-committee. It is important that when you have a limited number of able people you should make an authoritative examination.