§ Mr. Grenfellasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is taking action to protect the retail consumer of tea from further increases in prices as a result of the curtailment of the supply and of stocks in London; and whether he will take steps to effect a reduction in present prices without involving hardship to tea producers?
§ Captain WallaceThe average retail price of tea as recorded by the Ministry of Labour for the 1st July, 1937, shows no change from the prices recorded for the two previous months and is ¾d. per lb. higher than the price recorded for the 1st July, 1936. Retail tea prices will continue to be closely watched, but I cannot at present usefully add anything to the answer given to the hon. Member on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Colonies on 6th July.