§ 2 and 3. Mr. Jannerasked the Minister of War Transport (1) if he will provide a list showing the prices at which duty-free cigarettes are sold to officers and men on board ships of the Mercantile Marine;
(2) whether he will make arrangements to provide that the cigarettes and tobacco which are supplied duty free for the use of officers and men in the Mercantile Marine are not sold to them in excess of the proper price, and whether a list of such prices will be made available in every ship so that the officers and men con- 1884 cerned can make certain that they are being treated fairly in this respect.
§ Mr. BarnesThe arrangements for the provision and sale of tobacco and cigarettes to ships' crews are a responsibility of the owners and managers of the ships and have already been the subject of discussion by the National Maritime Board, on which the officers' and seamen's organisations, as well as shipowners, are fully represented. Tobacco and cigarettes may be bought in this country or abroad and the selling price varies according to the provision which has to be made for additional charges such as insurance and handling. No list of uniform or standard prices can therefore be produced. I am assured that owners are anxious to do everything possible to secure that fair prices are charged and I am asking them to consider the exhibition on each ship of list of selling prices.
§ Mr. JannerAre my right hon. Friend's inquiries with regard to the two cases of overcharging, of which I sent him particulars in August and September, yet completed? What action has he taken to protect men of the Merchant Navy from overcharging meanwhile?
§ Mr. BarnesI think my reply covers the general point. I will communicate with my hon. Friend on the other two matters.