§ 8. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the present wholesale price of potatoes and 1428 onions per lb.; and if he will take steps to lower these prices.
Mr. AmoryThe average wholesale prices of potatoes and onions are 4d. and 5d. per lb., respectively. I have already explained to the House why I do not intend to control prices of potatoes. The same arguments apply to onions. The wholesale and retail prices of onions which are all imported at this time of the year have fallen substantially during the past six weeks.
§ Mrs. MannIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I paid 1s. 2d. a lb. for onions in my locality and that elsewhere in Scotland they were 1s. a lb.? Is he further aware that owing to the increase in the price of bread there is no alternative to potatoes for working-class people? Does the right hon. Gentleman understand that this is bound to lead to increased wage demands? Will he shake himself up and do something regarding the price of potatoes?
Mr. AmoryI do not know what the retail price of onions is in Scotland, but I would advise the hon. Lady to have a good look round down here in the South, because I am informed that onions are obtainable at about 7d. a lb. from leading retailers in London.