§ 3. Sir BASIL PETOasked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to the withholding of supplies of flour to a Newport retailer on account of his having supplied bread over the counter at 7½d. for a four-pound loaf; whether he is aware that the Merthyr Tydvil bread was sold at the same time at 6½d. a loaf, whereas in Somersetshire and North Devon retail prices have been 8d. and 9d. on the same date; and whether it is proposed to give the Food Council any powers to deal with retail prices of necessaries where excessive prices are charged?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, my information is that whilst certain stores have sold bread at Merthyr Tydvil at a price of 6½d. per loaf, the general price was 7½d. over the counter and 8d. delivered. As regards the last part of the question, my right hon. Friend's view is that the remedy lies in publicity. The case referred to in the first part of the question has received considerable publicity at the instance of the Food Council, and the retailer concerned has stated that his sales have increased as a result of the action of the local Press.
§ Sir B. PETOIs the hon. Gentleman aware that one penny on the 4-lb. loaf costs about £30,000,000 a year to the working-classes of this country?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that he has a responsibility to the general community, and does 661 he not think that his Department ought to take steps to prevent this profiteering?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSWhether it is profiteering or not is, in a particular case, a matter for argument. My Department has taken steps, and the retailer who is selling bread cheaply is getting an increasing business.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHow is it possible for the retailer to continue to increase his business if his supplies are withheld.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSApparently they are not withheld.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSDoes the hon. Gentleman imagine that the retailer in Merthyr Tydvil is going to benefit at the expense of the retailers in Devonshire and Somersetshire?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe cost of bread in the two areas is not the same, and the figures are not necessarily comparable.
§ Mr. MACLEANWhat action is the Department of the hon. Gentleman prepared to take where similar threats are being used by millers against bakers selling bread at lower prices?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSThe same action as we have successfully taken in this case.
§ Mr. MACLEANWhat action? You have not stated it.
§ Mr. HANNONIs it possible to take any action through the Food Council to bring about uniformity of price in the various districts?
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSYou cannot sell bread, delivered, at a uniform price when the costs of delivery vary so much.