§ 55. Mr. Keelingasked the Minister of Food why he will not extend the Order limiting the prices at which whisky and gin arc served with meals in restaurants to the prices at which they are sold in bars; and why he will not control the prices of bottles of whisky and gin in shops.
§ Sir B. SmithIt is not possible within the limits of a Parliamentary answer to give a full statement of the reasons underlying my policy, but I have written to the hon. Member on the subject. Briefly, the answer to the first part of the Question is that the control of prices of whisky and gin in bars would not be practicable on account of the enormous variation in the amenities provided and the lack of uniformity in the measures used in bars. The answer to the second part of the Question is that the proposal would call for an expenditure of effort quite disproportionate to the likely results and would not achieve the object of making more whisky and gin available at normal prices.
§ Mr. KeelingI had the Minister's letter, but as I am only a small consumer of whisky and gin myself, and this is a matter of public interest, will the Minister publish the full reasons in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
§ Sir B. SmithYes, Sir.