HC Deb 26 October 1926 vol 199 cc695-6
Mr. HARDIE

(by Private Notice) asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in view of the recent Report of the Food Committee he is taking means for the safeguarding of the public against such malpractices as are thus disclosed?

The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of TRADE (Sir Philip Cunliffe-Lister)

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the Food Council's Report of 15th October on Wholesale Tea Prices. That Report did not recommend any action by the Government, but the recommendation was made that the Tea Buying Brokers' Association should alter their rules so as to preclude their members from undertaking simultaneously the businesses of broker and jobber. This recommendation has been communicated officially to the Association, who have replied that the matter will receive attention.

Mr. HARDIE

Are we to take it that the Government are going to take no action at all, and allow an outside body to give a false statement with regard to stocks held in this country, in order to raise their prices, and get a profiteering swindle on the turnover?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

The Government are taking exactly the action which the Food Council recommended them to take—namely, to communicate with the Association. If the hon. Gentleman will read the Report issued by the Food Council, he will see that they do not recommend any action by the Government Department. They state that a certain practice should not be followed by a trade Association, and recommend that that Association should alter its rules.

Mr. HARDIE

Are we to have no guarantee that where recommendations are not carried out, whether Parliament is sitting or not, immediate action will be taken against such profiteering?

Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTER

In the first place, not having received a final reply from the Association, I have no knowledge that the recommendation will not be carried out. But in the long run in these matters, what the House has got to decide between is whether they will have the present system, with informed publicity, or the cumbrous, ineffective and expensive system of State control.