61. Mr. H. D. Hughesasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that brussels sprouts sold in Worcestershire wholesale markets at 6d. to 1s. per net of 20 lb. are being retailed in the West Midlands at 5d. and 6d. per lb.; and what steps he is taking to reduce these margins.
§ Mr. StracheyI do not myself believe that the margin between wholesale and retail vegetable prices can in general be narrowed by administrative action. My hon. Friend may be interested to notice that in Worcestershire only the best sprouts are today in general making the old maximum controlled price, which under control was paid for all sprouts. Thus the consumer is now getting the second and third quality produce at appreciably less than she used to have to pay—especially if she goes to those greengrocers which have cut their prices and does not always pay the price asked in the first shop she visits.
Mr. HughesIs it not clear that this is a case where uncontrolled private enterprise is providing neither an adequate price for the producer nor a reasonable price for the consumer and, in view of this, will my right hon. Friend expedite the introduction of marketing machinery as recommended in the Lucas Report?
§ Mr. StracheyI hold no brief for the machinery provided by private enterprise as it exists today for the marketing of vegetables. I think, however, that I could produce other instances where the margin is very much narrower than the particular instance which the hon. Member has given. The fact is that the margin varies widely in different instances.