§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the first Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they are satisfied that the banks have available for issue the necessary number of halfpennies so long as the Ministry of Food Prices Order requires halfpennies to be included in the maximum price of milk.]
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, the banks ceased to issue halfpennies at the end of June. This was announced on April 1 so that retailers thus affected could make the necessary arrangements.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, while thanking the noble Baroness for that disappointing reply, may I ask whether she could please say how the public are going to manage if halfpennies are not available? Because as she will see included in the Question, it is a fact that the Ministry of Food Prices Order requires halfpennies to be included in the maximum price of milk. How will people manage if there are no halfpennies about?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I am sure the noble Lord will appreciate that the halfpenny will not completely disappear in this short period. I had the pleasure of hearing the discussion of some of the noble Lord's colleagues at the Dairymen's Conference, and I seem to recall that they were talking about the collection of money by the roundsmen once a week. I gathered that they were not always paid once a week, so the question of the halfpenny would not come into it. Therefore it really does not affect 554 such a large number of customers as perhaps has been thought.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, would not the noble Baroness agree that it is maladministration to seek to withdraw currency while that currency is statutorily required to be still in use?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was concerned that any increases should not take place earlier than was absolutely essential. His concern, of course, is for the customer.
§ LORD WAKEFIELD OF KENDALMy Lords, could the noble Baroness give an assurance that half-crowns and sixpences will not be withdrawn prematurely in the same way that these halfpennies have been?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, the halfpenny is not being withdrawn prematurely. The retailers were given due warning to have the halfpennies ready. After all, the period is only a little over three weeks.
LORD FRASER or LONSDALEMy Lords, would not the best plan be to put up the price of milk by one halfpenny and give it to the farmers?
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that, inasmuch as the halfpenny is going to be abolished people who sell goods have put the halfpenny on the price, to make it level, rather than reduced it by a halfpenny?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, I should hope that that practice will not take place in any large number of stores. As your Lordships will remember, we expressed in this House the opinion that retailers would not do this. I am happy to tell my noble friend that I have heard of some people who are selling cigarettes (though perhaps one should not suggest that everybody should buy these) at a halfpenny less.
§ LORD BLYTONMy Lords, is my noble friend aware that the brewers, the Conservative's friends, have put a halfpenny on beer?
§ LORD KILBRACKENMy Lords, would it not be better to reduce the price 555 by a halfpenny and give it to the housewife?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, that is not for me to say. But no doubt when my right honourable friend considers the prices, all these points are taken into account. This, I would say, is what my right honourable friend had in mind in not increasing the price, or suggesting an increase, too soon.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, would not the noble Baroness agree that, if there is a halfpenny extra charge, whether you pay by the day or by the week, which happens to be seven days, it will still involve the odd halfpenny?
§ BARONESS PHILLIPSMy Lords, by sheer mathematical calculation, it depends upon how many pints you buy.