§ 39. Sir F. Sandersonasked the Minister of Food whether he will give the peak prices quoted since the war; the prices twelve months ago; and the prices ruling today upon the United Kingdom market for the following commodities: wheat,
| MINISTRY OF FOOD COMMODITIES | ||||||||||||
| — | Price at March, 1948 | Price at March, 1949 | Peak Price since the war | |||||||||
| £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | £ | s. | d. | ||||
| Wheat (home-grown millable wheat sold by a person other than grower). | 1 | 0 | 1 | per cwt. | 1 | 4 | 1 | per cwt | 1 | 4 | 1 | per cwt |
| Maize (price charged by dealer to farmer). | 10 | 0 | 0 | per ton | 10 | 2 | 6 | per ton | 10 | 2 | 6 | per ton |
| Rye (home-grown rye sold by person other than grower). | 19 | 2 | per cwt. | 1 | 3 | 6 | per cwt. | 1 | 3 | 6 | per cwt. | |
| Linseed (price paid by Ministry merchant for home-grown linseed). | 45 | 15 | 0 | per ton | 55 | 15 | 0 | per ton | 55 | 15 | 0 | per ton |
| Linseed oil (Ministry selling price) | 200 | 0 | 0 | per ton | 170 | 0 | 0 | per ton | 200 | 0 | 0 | per ton |
| Lard (Ministry release price and price at which bacon factories sell). | 4 | 10 | 0 | per cwt. | 4 | 10 | 0 | per cwt. | 4 | 11 | 3 | per cwt |
| MINISTRY OF SUPPLY COMMODITIES | |||
| (Prices delivered buyer's premises) | |||
| — | Price at March, 1948 | Price at March, 1949 | Peak Price since the war |
| Copper (high conductivity electrolytic) | £132 per long ton | £140 per long ton | £140 per long ton |
| Lead (good soft pig) | £90 per long ton | £123 per long ton | £123 per long ton |
| Tin (common) | £519 per long ton | £569 per long ton | £569 per long ton |
| English refined tin is £3 10s.0d. per long ton higher than common tin. |
§ maize, rye, linseed, linseed oil, lard, copper, lead, tin, rubber and hides.
§ Dr. SummerskillAs the reply involves a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir F. SandersonIs the Minister aware that the United Kingdom prices prevailing today for a number of commodities are considerably in excess of world prices and are they not due to the Minister holding up prices to recover the loss on dear contracts; and may we have an assurance that no further contract without an escape clause will be entered into?
§ Dr. SummerskillThe hon. Gentleman must realise that prices charged today must be related to the prices we pay, and that these prices cannot always be the prices which are current.
§ Sir F. SandersonIs not the Minister aware that a free market industry has to compete against world prices and cannot charge prices in relation to the prices they may have paid.
§ Following is the table:
1723| BOARD OF TRADE COMMODITIES | ||||||||
| — | Open Market Price | Ministry"s selling Price | ||||||
| Price at March, 1948 | Price at March, 1949 | Peak Price since the war | ||||||
| Rubber | … | … | … | … | … | 1s. Od. per Ib. | 11½d. per lb. | 1s. 3 13/16d. per lb. |
| Hides: | |||
| There have been no London market quotations for hides in the pre-war sense since the war, because the Leather Control has been purchasing the entire supply required by United Kingdom tanners. United Kingdom merchants buy on behalf of the Control, however, and also conduct business with third countries. The following table gives an indication of the trend of prices (Control buying prices) of some fairly representative grades, but the full market list is very extensive. The great majority of domestic hides are transferred to the Leather Control from the Ministry of Food and are not acquired by merchants. | |||
| — | Open Market Price | Ministry"s Selling Price | |
| 1948 | 1949 | Peak | |
| Pence per lb. | Pence per lb. | Pence per lb. | |
| Argentine Frig. 1st Heavy Ox | 20⅝ | 20 19/32 | 22 |
| New Zealand Freezor Cows (40 1bs. up) | 20 | 20 | 21¼ |
| DryBahias | 20 | 22 | 26½ |
| Dry Capes | 21 | 21 | 26½ |