HC Deb 30 April 1940 vol 360 cc516-8
18. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the President of the Board of Trade the number of complaints received and the number of investigations conducted and prosecutions initiated by the various committees under the Prices of Goods Act; and if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Act are adequate for the purpose in view?

Major Lloyd George

I am informed by the Central Price Regulation Committee that the number of complaints received by local Price Regulation Committees up to the 20th April, the latest date for which information is available, was 1,957, of which 780 related to goods which are at present price regulated, and 1,177 to goods which are not. With the exception of complaints relating to foodstuffs for which the Ministry of Food has fixed maximum prices, all the complaints received have been or are at present being investigated. The Board of Trade have been requested by the Central Price Regulation Committee to take proceedings under the Prices of Goods Act in 17 cases. Prosecutions have already been instituted in three of these; the others have either been referred to the Lord Advocate for proceedings in Scotland or are under consideration by the Board of Trade. The provisions of the Act are, in my opinion, adequate for the purpose in view, and my right hon. Friend is proposing shortly to make an Order extending very considerably the range of goods to which it applies, both by the inclusion of new classes of goods and by the enlargement or removal of the price limits in the existing list.

Mr. Griffiths

In view of the large proportion of complaints which the Board of Trade have received in regard to goods not scheduled, will steps be taken to bring all these goods within the schedule of the Act?

Major Lloyd George

The hon. Member will, remember that one of the duties of local committees was to investigate the prices of non-regulated goods, and as a result of their representations the list is now being extended to cover a larger range of goods.

Mr. Shinwell

When does the hon. and gallant Member expect to be in a position to introduce the new Order extending the range of goods within the scope of the Act?

Major Lloyd George

I hope very shortly.

Mr. Cluse

Has there been any increase in the price of goods?

Major Lloyd George

There has been, of course, an increase in a great many articles, but the hon. Member knows that the object of this is to prevent unnecessary increases in prices.