HC Deb 16 December 1946 vol 431 cc1595-6
44. Mr. Dumpleton

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the retail price of cauliflowers has risen by about 133 per cent.; and why he has removed price contol.

Dr. Summerskill

My information is that the average retail price of cauliflowers in England and Wales during the past week was less than ¼d. per lb. above the former maximum control price for this period of the year. The price of green vegetables was decontrolled because the prospective supplies were sufficient to avoid the danger of any serious rise of prices.

Mr. Dumpleton

Is the hon. Lady aware that her information about the average price of cauliflowers, at any rate in my constituency, is absolutely wrong?

Dr. Summerskill

I can only tell the hon. Member that we collected information from 1,000 shops.

Mr. Beechman

Will the Minister bear in mind that the price in a London shop is not necessarily reflected in a similar reward to the agricultural worker or the farmer producing the cauliflower?