HC Deb 20 January 1943 vol 386 cc215-7
65. Mr. W. H. Green

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has considered the protest from the Metropolitan Borough Council of Deptford against prices fixed by the Ministry of Food for greenstuffs being greatly in excess of present current prices; and, in view of the possibility of the recently fixed maximum prices becoming the current price, what action does he propose to take?

Mr. Mabane

The resolution of the Deptford Borough Council to which my hon. Friend refers was passed on 2nd January. The Order did not become effective until nth January. The resolution, which refers to "fixed prices," appears to have been passed under a misapprehension. A reply has been sent repeating the explanation issued when the Order was announced on 30th December to the effect that the prices set out in the Order are maximum prices, and that the prices of perishable products such as green vegetables are likely to fluctuate considerably within these maxima. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the statement to which I have referred. He may also have seen a statement issued by the Retail Fruit Trade Federation on 12th January. In that statement the Federation pledged themselves not to charge the maximum price for green vegetables where there is no justification for it. They added that the public should help by refusing to patronise shops where unreasonable prices are charged; and that to assist housewives to identify shops where green vegetables are being sold at less than the maximum prices, window bills are being issued by the Federation for display by the retailers concerned. I should like to express my Noble Friend's appreciation of the most helpful co-operation of the Retail Fruit Trade Federation and retailers of green vegetables generally in this matter.

Mr. Green

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware of the very widespread apprehension among housewives and that the fixing of these maximum prices in advance has been tantamount to an invitation to certain sections of the trade to raise prices to the maximum? In view of the fact that this has already been reported in some districts, can he say what action he proposes to take?

Mr. Mabane

I am aware of exactly the opposite. Before the Order came into effect it was confidently predicted that the maximum would become the fixed price, but that has not been the case. The vegetable trade have co-operated extremely well, and so far as I know in no cases have maximum prices been charged without justification.

Mr. Evelyn Walkden

Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that because of the favourable weather we have had there has been a plentiful supply for the market, so that top prices have not been charged? Can he tell the House who were the people inside his Ministry on the advisory committee which advised these prices, because they relate to famine prices and not to prices when there is a plentiful supply?

Mr. Mabane

Certainly, prices are low when supplies are plentiful. As regards the second part of the hon. Gentleman's Supplementary Question, I would like to see that on the Order Paper.

Mr. Lipson

Will the Parliamentary Secretary give guidance to the public as to what should be reasonable prices?

Mr. Mabane

The Retail Fruit Trade Federation are co-operating extremely well, and they have asked retailers to display the window bills which I have mentioned in my reply.