§ 36. Mr. Bartle Bullasked the Secretary of State for War if anything has yet been done to see that exorbitant prices are no longer charged in Italy to British and American troops for wine and other goods.
Sir J. GriģģI outlined the measures taken to limit prices in Italy in a reply I gave the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 23rd November. Every effort is being made to enforce price control by Allied Military Government in the areas of military administration, and the Allied Control Commission is working with the Italian Government to the same end in areas under the control of the Italian Government. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that the black market flourished in Italy before the Armistice and that there are great practical difficulties involved in suppressing altogether a black market in goods for which the troops are prepared to pay the prices asked.
§ Mr. BullIs my right hon. Friend aware that nothing was done for two years in Egypt and that the troops in Italy still do not know whether anything has been done, and that if anything has been done, it has been quite ineffectual?