§ 15. Miss Burtonasked the Minister of Fuel and Power whether, in view of the excessive sums being expended by the petrol companies in advertising branded petrol, he will reduce the price to the consumer by regulation.
§ Mr. Geoffrey LloydNo, Sir, I do not control the prices of these premium petrols.
§ Miss BurtonHas the right hon. Gentleman seen the brushes and dusters which I have in my hands and which are being given away by the Shell and B.P. Company? They have a retail value of at least 5s. Is he further aware that the Regent Company are giving away jigsaw puzzles and propelling pencils? Would not he agree that it would be of more benefit to the consumer if these companies spent a little less money on these things—for which consumers have to pay in the end, anyway—and reduced the price of petrol by ½d. a gallon?
§ Mr. LloydI appreciate the point which has been made by the hon. Lady; but there is another way of looking at it. It is rather satisfactory, after all these years of "take it or leave it," to find this wooing of the consumer.
§ Sir R. AclandCould the right hon. Gentleman say what part of the cost of the petrol advertising campaign falls upon the taxpayer in his capacity as a major shareholder of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company? If the right hon. Gentleman cannot give that information now can he let me know later?
§ Mr. ErrollIs not competition the best way of bringing down prices?