§ 2.55 p.m.
§ BARONESS LLEWELYN-DAVIES OF HASTOEMy Lords, my right honourable friend the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection is making a Statement today in another place on bread prices. In view of the long list of speakers for today's debate, it has been agreed through the usual channels that it would be for the convenience of the House if the Statement were not repeated here but that, with the leave of the 237 House, I should arrange for it to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT. My noble friend Lord Beswick will of course be able to answer any questions on this subject tonight when he winds up, and there will be an opportunity for debate tomorrow for any noble Lords who wish it. I should also mention that, because of the long list of speakers, snacks will be available tonight, and dinners will be available tomorrow night. May I ask your Lordships to take advantage of these facilities?
§ LORD SHINWELLMy Lords, surely in a matter of such vital importance to consumers in this country it would be advisable that Members of your Lordships' House should have an opportunity of asking supplementary questions to ascertain the whole facts. Are we to understand that to circulate this Statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT is considered sufficient, and that it will enable Members of your Lordships' House to ask questions? Can we be told the date on which we may ask questions?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for reminding the Leader of the House, and the usual channels, about the delicacy of deciding what Statements should be repeated to your Lordships in the course of an already important debate. I looked at the Statement on bread prices, and, while it is of considerable importance, it seemed to me that its content could be more usefully discussed in to-morrow's debate when an opportunity will naturally arise for questions to be put. The difficulty, it seemed to me, was in deciding whether the Statement was of such a detailed character that it required immediate answer by Ministers. I did not think that it was in that particular field and therefore thought that, in the light of the number of noble Lords who are to speak this afternoon, it would be better to seek to avoid breaking up the debate by having this Statement repeated. But I am, naturally, in the hands of the House. My present advice would be to do as my noble friend suggested, to have the Statement published in the OFFICIAL REPORT and to take the opportunity which will undoubtedly arise to-morrow of raising any matters of substance.
§ LORD BYERSMy Lords, the noble Baroness mentioned that the noble Lord, Lord Beswick, was prepared to answer any questions to-day. But, of course, if the Statement is to be published in the OFFICIAL REPORT no one would have it to-day. In a case like this would it not be worth while, for the benefit of noble Lords, to place the Statement in the Library now so that we may have an opportunity of studying it?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I will certainly see whether this can be done. I cannot recall a precedent when Statements of this nature have been made available in the Library, but I will risk my head on this occasion and will see that the Statement is available in the Library from about 3.40 p.m., when the Minister will clearly have been on her feet making the Statement in another place.
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Following is the Statement made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection:
I have discussed with representatives of the bakers the situation arising from their proposals to make increases in bread prices on March 25 following their notifications to the Price Commission.
As the House is aware, it is the Government's intention to introduce food subsidies for certain basic foodstuffs as soon as possible and, against that background, I explained to the bakers that it was my wish to avoid any price increases occurring on the major types of bread. After consultation with my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have now agreed with the bakers on arrangements under which there will be no increase on March 25 in the price of almost all loaves weighing 14 oz. or more (which account for nearly 94 per cent. of bread consumption). I am grateful for the co-operation of the bakers in enabling these arrangements to be made so quickly. Loaves of less than 14 oz. (which comprise smaller speciality loaves, such as French bread, bread rolls and most types of starch-reduced bread) are not subject to these arrangements. Therefore, there may be some price increase for these speciality breads.
This will involve paying a subsidy, subject to the approval by the House of the powers I shall be seeking in the proposed legislation on prices and subsidies. Estimates will be laid before the House in due course. The estimated cost of avoiding this round of increases in bread prices is of the order of £21 million Per annum. My right honourable friend will be taking this cost into account in formulating his Budget.