§ 6. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has any information as to the growth of price-fixing associations; and to what extent articles of food are included in their operations?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIn reply to the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the memorandum on "Combination in Industry and Trade," prepared by the Board of Trade and published in the Balfour Committee's volume, "Factors in Industrial and Commercial Efficiency." As regards the second part of the question, in certain parts of the country associations of traders in milk, flour and bread fix the prices at which those articles shall be sold by their members, and there are price-fixing arrangements in respect of certain proprietary brands of foodstuffs.
§ Mr. MORRISONIn view of the great importance of the matter to consumers, could not the right hon. Gentleman see his way to publish the extent of his information in regard to price-fixing operations which are taking place in certain articles of food?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThere is a great deal of it which is common information, and there is information arising from time to time. There is a very full report by the Balfour Committee on Trade and Industry.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the Linlithgow Report, in which the other side is put?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, of course I have.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYAre you not going to do anything?
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERHas not there been a new association since the date of the Balfour Committee, the Grocers' Association, and has not the Proprietary Articles' Association, covering 8,000 commodities, been declared by the Canadian Government to be an illegal organisation, and will not the right hon. Gentleman follow the young and virile example of the Dominion?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERIt is very easy to put general questions of that sort. But this House has on many occasions debated the general question of interference with British trade and has always come to the same conclusion.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSis there any price-fixing organisation among the coal-owners, and has the right hon. Gentleman been urged to take steps to fix prices at a higher level than those now prevailing?