§ 4. Mr. John Dugdaleasked the Secretary of State for War what steps it is proposed to take to control prices of food produced in occupied Italy and Sicily; and on what date the controls will start to operate.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for The High Peak (Mr. Molson) on 23rd November. The necessary proclamations were made shortly after our forces had landed. There is, however, an extensive black market and my hon. Friend will appreciate how difficult it is to enforce such controls in communities 646 which for years have preferred to buy and sell in black markets to having recourse to tribunals and police to enforce their rights.
§ Mr. DugdaleWill the Minister not institute proceedings to point out to our co-belligerents that we regard these practices as peculiarly nauseating?
§ Sir J. GriggI will do everything within the limits of what is possible.