HC Deb 09 June 1931 vol 253 cc798-9
18. Sir K. WOOD

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Food Council have now received the necessary information concerning the new price of flour; and whether he has yet received their report?

Mr. W. GRAHAM

I presume that the right hon. Gentleman refers to the scale by which the price of bread in London is related to the price of flour. I have nothing at present to add to my reply to his question of 19th May.

Sir K. WOOD

When will the right hon. Gentleman be in a position to make a statement on the matter, which has now been pending for some weeks?

Mr. GRAHAM

There will be a meeting of the Food Council on 19th June, but, as I have informed the right hon. Gentleman, much of the difficulty turns on the absence of compulsory powers in getting the information.

Sir K. WOOD

Will the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question, which has nothing to do with compulsory powers, whether they have received the necessary information?

Mr. GRAHAM

That raises precisely that point. It is very difficult to get the information in the absence of powers.

58. Mr. HARRIS

asked the Minister of Labour whether she can make a statement as to the fall in the retail prices of bread, butter, meat and sugar during the last 12 months?

The MINISTER of LABOUR (Miss Bondfield)

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL

Average Retail Prices in Great Britain and Northern Ireland at 1st May, 1930, and 1st May, 1931, as calculated from returns supplied to the Ministry of Labour.
(Note: The prices relate to the kinds and qualities usually bought by the working classes.)
—— Average Reatail Price Fall between 1st May, 1930, and 1st May, 1931.
1st May, 1930. 1st May, 1931.
s. d. s. d. d.
per 4 lbs. per 4 lbs. per 4 lbs.
Bread 7
per lb. per lb. per lb.
Butter, Fresh 1 1
Butter, Salt 1 6 1
Beef, British:—
Ribs 1 1 1
Thin Flank ½
Beef, Chilled or Frozen:—
Ribs 10½ 1
Thin Flank ½
Mutton, British:—
Legs 1 6 1 ¾
Breast 10 ¾
Mutton, Frozen:—
Legs 11½ 10
Breast ¾
Bacon, Streaky* 1 5 1 0 5
Sugar, Granulated ¼
* If this kind is seldom sold in a locality the returns quote the prices of another kind locally representative.