17. Mr. De la Bèreasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will draw the attention of the Food Council to the present price of bread compared with the present price of wheat, which is the lowest since 1931 and ask them to consider whether the present official price of flour does not call for a reduction in the present price of bread?
§ Mr. StanleyThe Food Council keep a continuous watch on the relation between the prices of wheat, flour and bread. The present price of bread in the London area is in accordance with the scale recommended by the Council relating the price of bread to that of flour.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the London area the price-fixing association of the Millers' Mutual manipulates the official price, that in the provincial areas there are insufficient concerns outside the price-fixing associations to ensure a genuine price, and that the whole thing is entirely fictitious and false?
§ Mr. StanleyA long report on this matter was published by the Food Council only a short time ago. If my hon. Friend has any particular points to bring to my attention, I should be glad to hear of them.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware that those who are on the Food Council to protect the. interests of the consumers are suffering from a complete unawareness of the situation?