HC Deb 18 April 1940 vol 359 cc1124-6
79. Mr. Lyons

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will indicate what steps are taken, or representations made, by price regulation committees with reference to large war-time price increases with which the committees express themselves powerless to deal?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade (Major Lloyd George)

The recommendations made by local price-regulation committees for additions to the list of price-regulated goods have been receiving the consideration of the Board of Trade in consultation with the Central Committee, and the Board will shortly make an Order extending the list of goods to which the Act is applied.

Mr. Lyons

Does my hon. and gallant Friend realise that time is very important in this case? If you are going to stop exploitations which are reported, and delay occurs, exploitation goes on time and time again?

Major Lloyd George

I agree with the hon. and learned Member, but I am not aware that any delay has occurred.

Mr. Lyons

Has any extension been made yet?

Major Lloyd George

It is laid down that local price regulation committees should make representations in certain respects. When these representations are made they are considered, and I can assure the hon. and learned Member that no delay has occurred yet.

Mr. Lyons

Has there been any adoption yet by the Board of Trade of any recommendation made by a local price regulation committee in any particular case of exploitation?

Major Lloyd George

I would point out to the hon. and learned Member that the first order was made only in January and recommendations have only recently come in. We are, as I have said, very shortly extending the Act to cover a larger range of goods on the recommendation of local committees.

Mr. Shinwell

In the light of our experience in the past few months and the steady increase in the price of many commodities, will the Parliamentary Secretary consider issuing a general order covering a whole range of commodities?

Major Lloyd George

If I wanted to give the appearance of doing something, I might do that, but I want to get the Act working effectively, and the hon. Member must realise that a general order covering all commodities might well upset the whole machinery.

Mr. McGovern

Is the hon. Member aware that the general impression throughout the country is that the Government do not intend to do anything and that these local committees are a complete farce?

80. Mr. Lyons

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been called to a statement issued by the Price Regulation Committee of the North Midland Region to the effect that since the outbreak of war the price of processed peas has increased by about 100 per cent. and the price of loose peas by 178 per cent. to 320 per cent.; that these increases in price of this staple article are adversely affecting every home and that hospitals and other institutions are finding the present prices prohibitive and are being denied this commodity; and whether, in view of the present limitations of the Act, he will take immediate steps to deal with the position now disclosed?

Major Lloyd George

I have received through the Central Price Regulation Committee a memorandum from the committee for the North Midland region regarding increases in the price of peas and certain other foodstuffs. I am considering the questions raised in consultation with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food.

Mr. Lyons

In view of the very substantial increase in price, about which the public should have some explanation, will the Parliamentary Secretary give immediate attention to this matter and issue some explanation at a very early date, because on the face of it it seems indefensible?

Major Lloyd George

I can give the hon. and learned Member the explanation which he asks for now. There was a recommendation from the North Midland Price Regulation Committee which was sent to the Central Committee on 12th April, and then the matter was discussed by the Central Committee on Tuesday, and the Board of Trade decided to-day to extend the list of goods to which the Act is to apply.

Mr. Lyons

While appreciating the explanation, do I take it that the commodity in question is covered by the statement of the Parliamentary Secretary?

Major Lloyd George

I do not say that, as that question involves consultations with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Food. The question is whether it should come under the Prices of Goods Act or under the control of the Minister of Food. It is purely a question of what to do, but I can assure the hon. and learned Member that there has been no delay.