§ 26. Mr. Nabarroasked the President of the Board of Trade what manufactured goods, in addition to carpets, he has freed from price control since 1st November, 1951; and what further manufactured goods he is at present negotiating with representatives of the appropriate trades to free from price control in the early future.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave 1649 to the hon. Member for Blackburn, East (Mrs. Castle), on 13th March, when I circulated a list of articles freed from price control since the Government took office. Since that date, I have removed price control from all utility goods, except furniture and nylon stockings, and from carpets, printed felt base floor covering, candles and hollow-ware.
§ Mr. NabarroWill my right hon. Friend give the House an assurance that immediately supply equals or exceeds demand in the case of any manufactured commodity he will, with alacrity, free it from price control, thus restoring freedom to British industry?
§ Mr. ThorneycroftI certainly do not intend to hold price controls in any case except where I regard it to be necessary.