§ 4. Mr. Skeffingtonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the charges made for the supply of a number of proprietary wood preservatives are excessive; and whether he will introduce price control over these preparations.
§ Sir D. EcclesI have had no complaints about excessive charges for proprietary wood preservatives.
§ Mr. SkeffingtonIs the Minister aware that the actual price of the contents of some of these proprietary wood preservatives and treatments for disease is between 2s. and 3s. a gallon—that is a very generous allowance—and that they are sold at 25s.? There is a real racket going on not only in the actual remedies but in the treatment which a number of firms are advising people to carry out, often unnecessarily. Is the Minister aware that, in the case of a church in the home counties, where immediate treatment costing £600 was recommended although the beetle causing the disease had been dead for several centuries, the money spent was entirely wasted? Further, is the Minister aware that his Department is supposed to protect consumers, and will he not do something about this?
§ Sir D. EcclesI was not aware of the case mentioned by the hon. Gentleman, and I have no power of price control. If there is a ring, the information can be lodged with the Registrar of Restrictive Trade Practices.