§ Mr. J. Griffithsasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of complaints received and investigated, the number of prosecutions instituted, and the fines imposed for breaches of the Price Regulation Act since its inception; and whether the experience of the working of the Act shows that it is adequate to prevent profiteering in the scheduled goods?
§ Sir A. DuncanThe number of complaints under the Prices of Goods Act received up to the 20th July was 2,803. 2,415 of these were investigated: the remainder related to controlled foodstuffs. Proceedings have been or are being taken in 20 cases, 15 of which have been heard. There have been 10 convictions, and fines and costs have been imposed totalling £180 14s. 6d. In my view the Act has been effective in preventing undue increases in the prices of the goods to which it has been applied.