§ 9. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Minister of Food the present difference per lb. between the purchase and retail prices of butter imported by his Department under bulk-purchase or long-term agreements with New Zealand, Australia and Denmark.
§ 13. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Food what profit his Department is making on the sale of butter.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeIt would be misleading and contrary to sound commercial policy to attempt to disclose day-to-day trading results.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs not the Minister aware that, without losing any money, or without any cost to public funds, he could easily bring down the present selling price of butter, which is now between 4s. 2d. and 4s. 3d. a lb., and represents a considerable increase in the price of butter since it was decontrolled?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeActually the price is running at from 4s. to 4s. 4d.: indeed, I have seen some at 3s. 8d.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonWhere?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI saw some last Saturday, in a shop. It had a label on it, "Special reduction, New Zealand, 3s. 8d." If the hon. and gallant Gentleman would like to know, I will give him the address afterwards—privately, to stop a rush. It is quite obvious, however, that as decontrol has been in operation for only 14 days or so, it is impossible to give any figure.
§ Mr. WilleyWhilst appreciating the diffidence of the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, would he agree that it would be wrong in present circumstances for his Department to make a profit and that, on the contrary, the Department ought to do all it can to hold the prices?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeCertainly, Sir, We are not anxious to make a profit, but we are not bound to make a loss either. Decontrol has only been in operation a fortnight and we must give it a little time to see what is the market position.
§ Mr. GowerIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that London is not the only place where cheaper butter was offered for sale on Saturday? I also saw it on Saturday? Is the Minister also aware that, side by side with that butter, I also saw cheese offered—in Cardiff—at a reduction of about 4d. and also reduced prices for jam?
§ Mr. ShinwellWould the Minister be good enough to give the names and addresses of these businesses in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI think I had better confine myself to my offer to the 6 hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) to give him the name privately.
§ Mr. G. JegerWould the Minister explain why, if there are all these reductions in the price of food seen by his hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour tomorrow will have to explain an increase in the cost-of-living index?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI was asked this Question about one item, and I gave the results of my own observations.