§ 39. Mr. Bowlesasked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that more adequate supplies of pottery will be made available to the public at reasonable prices?
§ Mr. DaltonAn Order has been made under which the manufacture of domestic pottery is subject to licence and, by directions issued yesterday under the Order, production for the home market is restricted to certain simple types of plain white, light ivory and brown pottery. Exports have been reduced by 20 per cent. since 1st May, and a further cut of 20 per cent. will be imposed as from 1st August. By these means, supplies for the home market will be substantially increased. On the recommendation of the Central Price Regulation Committee, I made an Order yesterday regulating the distributors' margins for all domestic pottery and fixing maximum retail prices for certain essential articles which will be marked in three qualities according to their grade. Manufacturers' maximum prices have also been fixed.
§ Sir Patrick HannonHas the right hon. Gentleman taken steps to ensure that labour will be left in the Potteries to comply with the Orders?
§ Mr. DaltonI hope so, but there is great competition for labour at present.
§ Mr. SilvermanWhen will a supply of these utility articles be available to the public, and what steps have been taken to control prices until they are available?
§ Mr. DaltonPrices are controlled as from now on. A schedule of prices is attached to the Order which I signed yesterday. So far as production is concerned, we are pushing forward as fast as we can.
§ Mr. Neil MacleanWill the Order fixing the prices be made public?
§ Mr. DaltonCertainly.
§ Mr. MackIs it necessary to restrict the export of pottery in order to ensure sufficient for the home market?
§ Mr. DaltonYes, Sir. I said that the home market must take precedence over the export market for this purpose.