§ 55. General Sir George Jeffreysasked the Minister of Food if his attention has been called to the fact that the growers maximum net price for onions is 25s. per cwt. and that the retailer is allowed a profit of 31s. 8d. per cwt. for selling them; and whether he can give the reasons for this disparity of remuneration.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe retailer's margin under the Maximum Price Order applicable to 1943 home-grown onions was 10s. 8d. per cwt. That Order remained in force until 20th December when marketing of this crop was virtually completed. On 21st December the maximum retail price was increased to cover the cost of onions imported by my Department. Under the new Order the retailer's margin on imported onions is 10s. 2d. per cwt.
§ Mr. ThorneAre any Spanish onions being imported?
§ Colonel LlewellinYes, Sir.
§ Sir G. JeffreysDoes not the Minister think that even a profit of 10s. 2d. is an unreasonably high one?
§ Colonel LlewellinNo, I do not think so.