§ 37. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that the recent price increases on meat, sugar and other commodities are offset by seasonal reductions in others thereby maintaining an even cost-of-living index figure, what steps he has considered by way of price control or otherwise to effect a standstill over these prices when the seasonal reductions end.
§ Mr. GodberI do not accept the hon. Lady's assumptions, and I have nothing to add to the replies given to her on 23rd May.
§ Mrs. MannDoes the hon. Member realise that these assumptions are based upon his own assumptions, contained in the reply which he gave me last week, in which he told me that the increases due 596 to the Suez crisis were being offset by seasonal reductions, and that the reductions will fluctuate? Will he tell his right hon. Friend that it is time he stopped lecturing women about indiscriminate shopping and attended to his own business?
§ Mr. GodberI am sorry that the hon. Lady does not like being lectured, and I will try not to lecture her. I would remind her, however, that reductions in the prices of food are taking place even at the present time. In the last week prices of bread and tea have both fallen. The hon. Lady should be grateful, as I am sure the housewives are, for the fact that these reductions are taking place.