§ 82. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that in the making of bread French bakers operate on a margin of 11.4 per cent. of the price they pay for flour, the Dutch on 45.8 per cent., and the English on 118 per cent.; if he will take steps to reduce this margin so as to give the farmers and faun workers a better reward for producing the wheat or the housewife cheaper bread; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsIt is very difficult to make valid comparisons on baking costs in the United Kingdom and those on the Continent because of the various differences in the type of product and conditions in the baking industry. I do not know how the figures quoted by my hon. Friend were arrived at; but I have no information which would justify taking powers to control prices and margins.