§ 36. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the high price now being demanded for pepper; and whether he will now take steps to control it.
§ Mr. WebbI realise that pepper is causing a lot of complaints just now. The whole trouble has arisen from the dislocation of supplies caused by the war and post-war disturbances in the Far East. I might try to control the price, but I am satisfied that that would not work. As the world price is fluctuating so widely, due to demand exceeding supply, any restrictive control here might reduce such supplies as traders are now getting. That is a risk I am not prepared to take.
§ Miss BurtonWould my right hon. Friend take steps, either through publicity or in some other way, to bring home to the people the fact that large amounts of pepper are being bought by concerns 741 in this country, because I have had many complaints from constituents that they are unable to obtain supplies of pepper?
§ Mr. W. FletcherWill the Minister take the matter up with representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, because it is only with their co-operation that we shall get a bigger supply? He might also take up the question of sugar supplies with them at the same time.