66. Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has now received a report from the Food Council on the price of bread; and whether he can make a statement thereon?
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. W. S. Morrison)I have received a report of an inquiry into bakers' 172 costs conducted by chartered accountants for the Food Council before the outbreak of war, and other relevant information. The question of bread prices in war time is now under consideration by the Ministry of Food, but I am not at present in a position to make a statement.
Mr. De la BéreWhy has the price of bread been increased in the London area since the war, and what possible justification has there been for that increase? Is this not another of those extraordinary things of which we cannot get to the bottom even in peace time?
§ Mr. MorrisonThe Food Council has a scheme for fixing the price of bread in relation to bakers' costs, and it is the intention of the Ministry to follow the same procedure so far as baking in war time is concerned.
§ Mr. John WilmotIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that, together with the increased cost of tea and sugar, this additional impost on the very poor in London is something which cannot be borne?