§ 51. Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will take steps to fix the prices of rationed commodities so as to simplify the calculations in fractions of a penny, especially when the commodity is sold in small quantities?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI can assure my hon. Friend that every effort is made to fix prices so as to simplify the payment for individual rations. It is, however, generally found impossible to obviate the use of fractions for small quantities without fixing a price which would be unnecessarily high for larger quantities. Moreover a price which does not involve small fractions when the ration is at a certain level will almost certainly necessitate their use as soon as the ration changes.
§ Mr. DaviesHow much should a retailer charge for 3 ozs. of cheese at 1s. 1d. a lb.?
Major Lloyd GeorgePerhaps the hon. Member would like-me to work it out for him. Worked out in fractions, the price is 2.7/16d. The retailer is allowed to charge 2½d.
§ Mr. DaviesIs the Minister aware that, when the retailer makes a charge of that kind in order to simplify the fraction, the charge is invariably against the customer and in favour of the retailer?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo customer has ever complained to me about being overcharged by one-sixteenth of a penny.
§ Mr. CollindridgeIs not the Minister aware of the discontent which this causes, not only to the staff behind the counters but to the customers as well?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIt may be so in some cases, but hon. Members must appreciate the difficulties which have to be encountered in dealing with weights which are reckoned in stones in some cases and pounds in others. We have to change the figures sometimes, and then we use the nearest whole number.
§ Mr. CollindridgeWould not multiples of four be more convenient to use?