§ 25. Mr. Hamlingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what formal machinery exists between his Department and the Prices and Incomes Board on food prices.
§ Mr. PeartNone, Sir. But my Department will willingly give the Board any help that may be asked for.
§ Mr. HamlingWill my right hon. Friend look at this again? Is he not aware that farmers are disappointed with their incomes? Is he not also aware that housewives are constantly complaining about high costs of vegetables? Will he look at what goes wrong between the farmer and the housewife?
§ Mr. PeartMy hon. Friend must be aware that there is no form of machinery for this. The Board is an independent authority.
§ Mr. Hector HughesIs not the inquiry referred to in this Question the kind of inquiry which should be dealt with not secretly in my right hon. Friend's Department but publicly? My right hon. Friend should take evidence from housewives and others who are intimately concerned with this matter. Will he take steps to ensure that this is done in public?
§ Sir M. RedmayneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there seems to be some misunderstanding about this? The great increases in prices which have come into the public news this morning are very largely due to Government action. If too much is put down simply to the question of food prices as such, it misleads the public.
§ Mr. PeartI hope that the right hon. Gentleman will bear in mind that action has to be taken to remedy a problem created by our predecessors.