§ 24. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that tea has increased in price by 3s. 4d. per lb. since derationing, and that butchers' meat has increased by 4d. and 6d. per lb. this month; and whether he is now prepared to re-impose controlled ceiling prices on these commodities.
Dr. HillThe price of tea has increased because world demand exceeds world supply. The price of butchers' meat has increased in the last few weeks primarily because of the seasonal decline in home production and the public desire to purchase fresh home-killed meat. There is, however, plenty of imported meat. As the reimposition of price control would require the reintroduction of rationing and distribution controls, the answer to the second part of the Question is "No."