§ 17. Sir Richard Aclandasked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications have been made in the last 12 months to his Department by private traders or associations of private traders for permission to charge increased maximum prices, or increased maximum trading margins; how many of these applications have been refused, how many agreed to, and how many agreed to in modified form; and if he has estimates of how much the extra cost to the consumer would have been if those which have been refused or agreed in modified form had been agreed in full.
Mr. H. WilsonNo record has been kept of the very considerable number of applications from traders for increased maximum prices or margins which have been refused, or allowed in full, or allowed in modified form. The Board of Trade, in the last 12 months, have made about 150 orders increasing maximum prices in response to traders' applications, after close examination of the relevant facts and figures. In many cases the increases given were less than those which the traders had sought; but I cannot estimate how much the extra cost would have been to consumers if all the applications had been granted in full.
§ Sir R. AclandWould it be likely to run into £100 million or so?
Mr. WilsonIt would be impossible to estimate, but the number of applications for price increases this year must have run into thousands.