§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he will consider giving the Food Council power to prosecute firms whom they find guilty of charging excessive prices?
§ Mr. HACKINGI have been asked to reply. No, Sir.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Home Secretary whether he is considering the disbanding of the Food Council on account of its ineffectiveness in keeping down prices; and whether he will consider handing over their duties to the local authorities, with powers to publish a 1092W black list containing the names of those firms whom they find guilty of charging excessive prices?
§ Mr. HACKINGI have been asked to reply. No, Sir; the duty of the Food Council is not to control prices but to investigate questions relating to the supply or price of foodstuffs, in order that publicity may be given to the facts. It should be realised that except for three spring and summer months of last year the index figure for retail food prices was, on 31st March last, lower than it had been for 12 years, and nine points below the index figure for the general cost of living.