§ 55. Mr. Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food, whether he will take steps to acquire all supplies of such articles of foodstuffs as increase rapidly in price and with which price committees are powerless to deal, in order to prevent profiteering and shortage through cornering or otherwise?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, Sir. My Noble Friend will carefully consider any recomrnendations made by Price Regulation Committees, and in any suitable case issue a Maximum Price Order, by which means the prices of some 35 food commodities are at present regulated.
§ Mr. LyonsDoes my hon. and gallant Friend realise that once the Minister is satisfied that there will be a shortage of foodstuffs and does not indicate that he will fix a price to prevent profiteering, the price goes sky high unless the Minister does the buying?
§ Mr. McGovernIs the Minister aware that a large number of farmers are holding up stocks of various materials and are refusing to sell them to retailers, but that people with cars can go to the farmers and buy at the top price which the farmer demands, thus keeping from the ordinary man the foodstuffs which should be commandeered by the Government?