§ 14. Mr. Sidney Shephardasked the President of the Board of Trade if, before issuing Statutory Instrument, 1948, No. 5, increasing the charges to be made by boot and shoe repairers, any consultation between his Department and the Incorporated National Federation of Boot Trades Association, Limited, took place.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo, Sir. The Board of Trade were then instituting proceedings against the Association for inciting their members to contravene the current maximum price order.
§ Mr. ShephardIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the secretary of the Central Price Regulation Committee admitted that the Order was a bad one, and while it was in force shoe repairers would have to work at a loss? What steps is he taking to ensure that Orders issued from his Department in future are fair to all concerned?
§ Mr. WilsonI have already explained some of the circumstances to the House. There was consultation with the Association at an earlier stage, and when the Order was amended, the various representations which had been made were taken into account.