HC Deb 24 March 1949 vol 463 cc532-3
7. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increased profits of footwear manufacturers, he will order further reductions in the retail selling price.

Mr. H. Wilson

No, Sir. It is less than four months since the maximum margins for footwear manufacturers were reduced, at the end of November, 1948, and it is too early to consider any further changes. Most of the profits shown by footwear manufacturers for the past year would, of course, have been earned before the margins were reduced.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the order he made on 28th February last effected reductions of only very small amounts, varying from 1ld. in certain ranges to nothing in other ranges of footwear, and in those circumstances will he not do a little better than that to ease a burden which is very heavy upon the parents of young children?

Mr. Wilson

The average reductions were of the order of 8d. in the £and I should have thought that the improved supplies of shoes in the shops should now help to bring down prices as a result.