§ 60. Sir Richard Aclandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered cases in which large retail firms are selling national butter at 1s. 6d. per pound, whereas small shops, who cannot purchase supplies at less than 1s. 5d., can hardly sell at less than 1s. 7d.; and how he proposes to deal with them?
§ Mr. BoothbyI am aware that national butter is being sold by certain retail organisations below the prescribed maximum price of 1s. 7d. per pound. This is clearly in the consumers' interest and it is not desirable to take any step which would have the effect of increasing the cost to the consumer.
§ Sir R. AclandCould not an effort be made to supply small retailers with butter at 1s. 5d. and to allow them to sell it at a higher price?
§ Mr. BoothbyMy Noble Friend is not, I think, prepared to take any steps which would have the effect of raising prices for the consumer.
§ Mr. G. GriffithsWill the Minister say that the price of butter will not go up any higher, because, if it does, the poorer sections of the community will be able to have nothing more than margarine?
§ Mr. BoothbyWe are doing our best to see that no prices go up.
§ Mr. SilvermanIf it is possible for some firms to sell national butter on an economic basis at 1s. 6d. a pound, would it not be possible to arrange the distribution of butter so that everyone could purchase it at that price? What justification is there for one section of the population paying 1s. 7d. per pound for butter and another section paying 1s. 6d. per pound?
§ Mr. BoothbyThe element of competition comes in, which I do not think is unhealthy; but the whole question of trade margins is under consideration.
§ Mr. SilvermanWhy should the poor consumer pay for the competition?