26. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food whether, arising out of the talks he is now having with the chocolate manufacturers he will be in a position to make a statement before the coming Recess in respect of the price reductions which have been agreed with the manufacturers and traders; and whether he can now state what steps are being taken to protect the retailers against losses on their existing stocks of chocolate.
§ Dr. SummerskillThe discussions with the industry about new price schedules for chocolate and sweets cannot be completed in time for any statement to be made before the Recess, but I can assure the hon. Member that we shall bear in mind the point he makes about retailers' stocks.
Mr. De la BèreIs the hon. Lady aware that the public have had to pay very high prices for many months, and have been exploited by the Government owing to the prices charged to the chocolate manufacturers for cocoa beans, and will she make certain that, in future, the people will not be expected to pay these high prices, for which there is no justification whatever?