HC Deb 20 November 1940 vol 365 cc1983-5
52. Mr. Roland Robinson

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of his fixation of the price of onions at 4½d. per lb., he is aware that bulk owners of such vegetables are not putting them on the market but are disposing of them by a system of barter to residents who live in the country; and whether he can take any remedial action?

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

My Noble Friend has caused inquiries to be made, but has been unable to obtain evidence that transactions of the kind described by my hon. Friend are taking place except in one or two isolated cases, which are under examination at the present time. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to furnish me with particulars of any individual cases, of which he has information, these will also be investigated.

Mr. Shinwell

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the reason why he cannot get evidence is because the dealers are much too astute for him and his Department? We can only test the matter by results. People cannot get onions in spite of the limited price.

Major Lloyd George

Limiting prices does not produce onions. The main source of the onion supply is cut off. Ninety per cent. of the onions consumed in this country come from abroad. To bring clown the price does not produce onions. We are investigating cases with which we have come in contact, and we shall be grateful to have cases brought to our notice.

Mr. Garro Jones

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that, if a limited price is not capable of producing onions, it has succeeded in causing onions to disappear, and will he investigate that aspect of it?

56. Mr. Lyons asked

the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the difficulty of obtaining onions, which are now controlled in price, long after notice had been given of an intention so to do; and whether he will take steps in future to end the delay between notice of such intention and the coming into force of price control?

Major Lloyd George

I am aware of the present difficulty in obtaining onions, and would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave last week to my hon. Friend the Member for South Croydon (Sir H. Williams), explaining the reasons for the present shortage of supplies. Notice was given of the introduction of price control in order to allow retailers and wholesalers who had bought at high prices to clear some of their stocks without suffering a heavy loss. My Noble Friend can see no objection to the procedure followed.

Mr. Lyons

Is it not a fact that each time there is this gap between notice of intention to fix a price and the fixing of the price, it gives a chance to the racketeer; and is not the Minister by doing that playing into the hands of those who have made corners several times lately?

Major Lloyd George

I do not think that is the case, because with the very notice that onions were to be controlled prices began to go down. That does not bear out what my hon. and learned Friend has said.

Mr. Thorne

Is the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that leeks are taking the place of onions and have gone up 200 or 300 per cent.?

Mr. Lyons

May I give notice that, arising out of the unsatisfactory position in this matter, I shall raise the whole question on the Adjournment?