§ 39. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is now prepared to institute price control of bread, in view of the action of certain bakers in Liverpool who are refusing to supply shops with their bread, because they are taking a supply of bread from a firm of bakers who can offer the bread at a much cheaper price, details of which have been sent to him.
§ 40. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, by price control or other means, he will reduce the retail price of bread in areas where action is being taken to avoid such reduction.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend does not think price control would be appropriate. Restrictive trading agreements affecting bread were included in the first direction to the Registrar as to the cases to be taken before the Restrictive Practices Court.
§ Mrs. BraddockDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that the information with which I have supplied his Department indicates that there is a very big bread monopoly in Liverpool affecting the price of bread, and that some very serious action must be taken immediately about this matter, so that people who desire to pay cheaper prices for bread may do so through shops being supplied with the cheaper bread? Will he consult the President of the Board of Trade to see what active steps can be taken immediately to do away with this very vicious monopoly?
§ Mr. GodberI have studied carefully the documents which the hon. Lady was kind enough to send me. As to the restrictive practices aspect, I can add nothing to what my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has said in this House this morning. As for supplies, I understand from the documents which the hon. Lady sent me that these local suppliers are obtaining supplies of bread at the present time and that there is no difficulty, as far as I am aware, in anybody obtaining what he wishes.
§ Mr. WilleyWhen will the hon. Gentleman do more than study documents? We have repeatedly raised this complaint in 1375 the House. When will he do something to stop these undesirable practices which are keeping up the price of bread in this area?
§ Mr. GodberI think we must get this quite straight. This is an entirely new matter which has arisen. In regard to restrictive practices, I have indicated that it is a matter for the President of the Board of Trade, and I cannot go further than what my right hon. Friend said this morning. As to the question of prices generally and the question of price control, there is no evidence that price control would bring down prices. It certainly did not when hon. and right hon. Gentlemen opposite were in power.
§ Mrs. BraddockHas the hon. Gentleman read the documents aright? I believe, if I have read them rightly, that they state that three multiple firms in Liverpool, whose names are given, have refused to supply small shops in a working-class area who have been taking bread from a firm which is supplying a 28 oz. loaf cheaper by 2d. a loaf than the multiple firm. Will the hon. Gentleman read the documents again? I am certain he has not read them right.
§ Mr. GodberI am sorry, but, as I understand it, shops are obtaining supplies of the cheaper bread without any difficulty, and so their customers are able to obtain it. Of course, I will look at this again. I would deplore any action taken to prevent shops from receiving bread. However, as I understand the documents, there is no difficulty in their obtaining the bread they wish.
§ Mr. GodberI have indicated already that that is a matter for the President of the Board of Trade, as the right hon. Gentleman knows.