HC Deb 10 November 1949 vol 469 c1378
18. Mr. Dodds

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will control the charges for haircutting.

Mr. H. Wilson

My hon. Friend will no doubt have seen recent announcements of increased charges for hairdressing. I am glad to be able to tell him that they refer to only a small number of hairdressers, and that as a result of discussions with the Central Price Regulation Committee, the responsible trade associations, which represent nearly 20,000 hairdressers throughout the country, have advised their members not to increase hairdressing charges. The few hairdressers who have recently increased their charges have been advised to revert to their old tariff, and I understand that most of them have already done so. The action of the trade associations appears to have been effective, and it seems unnecessary for me to exercise at present any statutory powers to control these charges.

Mr. Wilson Harris

Would the right hon. Gentleman arrange that the charges of this industry should be by piecework?

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Would my right hon. Friend please do something to ensure that those who come into the same category as the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition are not charged as much as those who are well thatched, like the Lord President of the Council?