Colonel A. Evansasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, in spite of the Government policy of widespread control of prices and the maintenance of essential industries by means of subsidies, developments are now tending to show themselves, not so much in rising prices as in shop shortages and queues; and what steps he proposes to take to counter this form of inflation?
§ Sir K. WoodAs my hon. and gallant Friend is aware, steps have been taken to reduce drastically supplies of consumer, goods to the civilian population in order to release the maximum of man-power, productive capacity and raw materials for purposes directly connected with the prosecution of the war. Where necessary, rationing schemes have been introduced to secure fair distribution, and the Goods and Services (Price Control) Act embodies a wide scheme of price control of the more essential commodities and this policy will be developed as occasion may require. The fact that certain goods may be in short supply in a particular place is not necessarily evidence of inflation.