§ 27. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Food why there were no consultations with representatives of the meat traders about the new schedules of retail meat prices.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe hon. Member is under a misapprehension. My officers consulted precisely the same representative traders as they did when the meat prices were altered in July last year.
§ Mr. WilleyDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that this time the meat traders asked that they should be officially consulted at the earliest possible stage in the negotiations and that they now complain that this was not done; and, further, that they complain that the schedules were issued 887 to the Press before they were given to the federation?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI can add nothing further to my answer. They were consulted.
§ Mr. RoyleIs the Minister aware that there have been many criticisms from trade leaders about the consequences of these rises in price? Would it not be a good idea if the traders were always consulted fully before rises took place?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThere has been no departure from the practice of past years. I have just said that the same people were consulted, precisely as before.
§ Mr. WilleyDoes the right hon. and gallant Gentleman realise that this time the butchers are saying that the Minister is quite out of touch with what is happening in the butchers' shops, and that this is a new circumstance?