§ 6. Mr. Pavittasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the price of bread was last increased and by how much; what was the length of time between that request for an increase in price and its application; and if he will make a statement on the present position.
§ Mr. PriorLeading plant bakers informed me that they were increasing the price of all loaves by 1d. from 30th November. As for the remainder of the hon. Member's question, I would refer him to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Tiverton (Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop) on 2nd November.—[Vol. 805, c. 284.]
§ Mr. PavittHas the right hon. Gentleman examined the way in which the Labour Government were able to take action to hold back increases in the price of bread for some months? Would he not now do something other than rely on competition, which hardly exists in the bakery trade?
§ Mr. PriorThere were seven increases in the six years in which the Labour Government were responsible for our affairs, including two increases in January and April this year. It is not perhaps without some importance, and is a commentary on the previous Government's activities, that within two months of the new Government having been appointed, the trade was back again for a third increase. It applied for an increase in price—
§ Mr. HefferWhere is your competition?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder.
§ Mr. PriorIt has made it perfectly plain that the price it was after was a 2d. increase in August and got 1d., rounded down to less than 1d. when decimalisation comes in, in November.
§ Mr. HefferWhat is the right hon Gentleman doing about it?
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesHas the right hon. Gentleman forgotten that his party gave clear assurance that prices would be held down and brought down? Is he aware that before the increases that 225 were referred to under the Labour Government, I referred an application for increase to the National Board for Prices and Incomes? Could he say what scrutiny has taken place in his Department to satisfy himself that the recent increases were justified?
§ Mr. PriorIt is not my job to scrutinise, and I have no intention of becoming involved in scrutinies of that type. The fact is that on two occasions this year, in spite of reports by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, the price of bread went up under the previous Administration.