§ Mr. Boyd-Carpenterasked the President of the Board of Trade what prices are paid for the utility furniture being made for this country in Poland and Czechoslovakia; and at what prices the furniture is sold by his Department.
§ Sir S. CrippsA primary consideration in importing furniture is that it shall fit into the utility scheme and be available to the public at a price consistent with that of British-made utility furniture.
Typical c.i.f. and maximum retail selling prices are as follow:
The c.i.f. prices are subject to port dues and to an import duty of 20 per cent. The furniture is not sold by the Board of Trade but the distributive margins are controlled by them.
Czech bedroom suite:— c.i.f. price. Maximum retail selling prices. £ s. d. £ s. d. Wardrobe 14 10 6 26 5 0 Dressing table with mirror 11 15 6 22 13 9 Dressing chest without mirror 9 0 6 16 5 3 Specimen Polish prices:— Wardrobe 9 12 6 19 17 3 Tallboy 6 5 6 13 4 3 Dining table 3'x 3' 4 0 0 8 2 9 Sideboard 6 15 0 13 17 0 Dining chair 18 1 1 17 3 Kitchen chair 10 9 1 3 3