HC Deb 04 November 1920 vol 134 cc609-10W
Mr. PENNEFATHER

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will cause inquiries to be made as to whether manufacturers and retailers are giving the public the proper benefit of the many reductions in the value of raw materials or costs of replacements, or whether they are profiteering by maintaining prices at an unduly high level, in view of current prices of materials or replacement?

Sir P. LLOYD-GREAME

The Central Committee under the Profiteering Acts have the importance of this question fully in view. The bulk of the Board of Trade's powers under the Profiteering Acts, so far as retail transactions are concerned, have been delegated to the local committees. It has been pointed out to these committees that in considering the reasonableness of a given rate of profit they should take into consideration the coat of replacement.