HC Deb 19 December 1932 vol 273 cc737-9
37. Mr. DICKIE

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the discrepancies in retail prices of tea caused by coupon methods of trading; and whether he will have an estimate formed of the, average additional price per pound charged for tea bearing gift coupons?

Dr. BURGIN

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that some information on this subject is contained in a report on tea prices made by the Food Council on 30th July, 1931. As I have already stated, the Government are prepared to move for the appointment of a Select Committee of the House to inquire into gift coupon trading if the members interested in the matter so desire.

Mr. DICKIE

Will the Committee be appointed immediately?

Dr. BURGIN

If those who are in favour of a certain private Member's Bill and those who are opposing it care to agree among themselves that a Select Committee is the proper tribunal, the Government will move at once.

Mr. THORNE

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that the hon. Member who is putting this supplementary question has bought goods from the shops where they give coupons, and from shops where they do not give coupons and he has not found any difference in the price at all?

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZON

Is it not a fact that one cannot get a Select Committee if two people object to such an inquiry?

Dr. BURGIN

There must, of course, be general agreement before the appointment of a Select Committee can be moved.

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE-BRABAZON

Why should the Minister of Health forbid this form of trading and yet the Board of Trade take no action to have an inquiry?

Mr. HACKING

Would it not be in the interests of everybody to have an inquiry

Dr. BURGIN

I think the point at issue is the nature of the inquiry. It is considered, after a good deal of investi- gation of the subject, that a departmental inquiry is not the most effective form, and that the real method of deciding competing questions of evidence is a Select Committee of this House.

Mr. HACKING

If the Government cannot form a decision themselves, will they allow the House to decide the question?