10. Mrs. Shortasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to ensure that those West Midlands brewers who have raised the bar price of their beer adhere to the undertaking given to Her Majesty's Government in October.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesBrewers are sending to my Department details of all price increases they make. I can confirm that this undertaking to restrict increases to a small agreed proportion of their production is being observed.
Mrs. ShortIs my right hon. Friend aware that on 7th October, a few days after his right hon. Friend made a statement at the Blackpool conference that she had pegged the price of beer, Wolverhampton pubs put up their prices, and that many of my constituents believe that this agreement is not being adhered to? Will he look at this again?
§ Mr. HughesI am prepared to look at any individual case which my hon. Friend brings to my notice, but the evidence I have is that the agreement is being adhered to very well.
§ Mr. BiffenWill the right hon. Gentleman confirm, for the benefit of his hon. Friend, that there is no legal requirement whatsoever on breweries to peg their prices, inasmuch as if they keep them low, they add to the Chancellor's difficulty in dealing with the domestic consumer demand?
§ Mr. HughesThe brewers and licensed victuallers are co-operating with the Government in this matter.