§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the proposal under the Consumers' Council Bill to fix prices, he proposes to obtain the wages of all foreign workmen engaged in the production of such commodities as may be affected by this Bill?
§ Mr. W. GRAHAMShould such information appear to the Council to be relevant to their inquiries, they will no doubt endeavour to obtain it.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the price-fixing operations of the Consumers' Council, it is proposed to give full consideration to the representations of the Dominions and territories overseas which produce the commodities in respect of which prices may be fixed and, in that case, how such representations will be heard; whether they will be published; and what action will remain to those Dominions and territories which may object to the prices fixed?
§ Mr. GRAHAMUnder the Bill the power, in certain circumstances, to fix prices is given to the Board of Trade, not to the Consumers' Council, and the Board of Trade would, as always, give most careful consideration to any representations they receive. For the rest, I would ask the hon. Member to await the discussions in Committee.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEasked the President of the Board of Trade whether there are any other countries, and, if so, which, where the price-fixing of commodities in ordinary use by the public is undertaken by the State, either directly or indirectly; and whether, if such is the case, he will state how the machinery of price-fixing operates?
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§ Mr. GRAHAMMy information is that there are arrangements for fixing maximum retail prices for certain essential commodities in France, Italy, Norway, Queensland, South Africa and Spain. The form of legislation and method of enforcement vary in the different countries, the powers being exercised in some cases by the central Government and in other by local authorities.