HC Deb 08 July 1948 vol 453 c568
43. Mr. Gallacher

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to limit the over-riding powers of the Carpet Manufacturers' Executive, who are not only discriminating against carpet wholesalers who do not submit to their authority, but who are actually encouraging traders to contravene the Goods and Services (Price Control) Acts, 1939–43, by insisting that they sell carpets at a higher price than that laid down by these Acts.

Mr. H. Wilson

The answer to the first part of the Question is that I have at present no power to interfere with the arrangements made by the manufacturers for the distribution of their carpets on the home market. I have no evidence which supports the allegation in the second part of the hon. Member's Question.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that in a prosecution by the Board of Trade in Edinburgh it was demonstrated that the order then in operation could not be understood, and that the new order which has been issued gives full power to manufacturers to charge what prices they like?

Mr. Wilson

No, Sir, that is not so, and the decision of the court in that case was in direct contravention to the suggestion made by the hon. Gentleman in the second part of his Question.