Food and Drink Industries

HC Deb 20 December 1976 vol 923 cc16-7

14. Mr. Giles Shaw

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when he next plans to discuss prices with the Food and Drink Industries Council.

Mr. Hattersley

I last met the FDIC for this purpose on 10th December. I shall no doubt be doing so again from time to time in the future, though at the moment there are no firm appointments.

Mr. Shaw

I thank the right hon. Gentleman for that reply. Will he confirm that it is no part of his intention to treat the food industry separately from any other industry and will treat it as another most important consumer industry? Is he aware that interference in the baking industry has had a profound effect on morale in the food manufacturing industries as a whole? Will he please take note that this kind of manipulation of his powers, with maximum price orders and discount structures, tends to worry those who operate in a very competitive industry?

Mr. Hattersley

On the general question, the food industry is as much a part of the British economy as is any other sector. On the high level of employment and in respect of the need for high levels of investment, I must emphasise that the industry is not being picked on. As regards bread, when I met the representatives of the Food and Drink Industries Council, among their number was Mr. Theo Curtis, Chairman of the Federation of Bakers. If Mr. Curtis asks me to remove all controls from the bread industry I shall do so. My difficulty is that some authorities which have been quoted against me have been the most vocal in the industry with demands that I should continue to participate in the industry. They have been urging me to extend controls over the industry rather than to withdraw them.

Mr. Rost

If the Minister did not suggest that the price of bread should be reduced by 4p a loaf, why did he not deny that suggestion immediately?

Mr. Hattersley

I do not believe that it is my job to deny something I have never said. If the hon. Gentleman does not believe what I told the House, I shall not condescend to contradict him yet again.