§ Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that fish has been recently sold in the Grimsby docks at less money per stone than it is retailed per pound in the shops; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce the price gap between what the producer receives and the consumer pays.
§ Mr. StracheyI am aware that some fish recently fetched extremely low prices at Grimsby, but, as I explained to the hon. and gallant Member for Macclesfield (Air-Commodore Harvey) on 5th June, it would be impracticable for me to vary the maximum price schedules from day to day so as to enforce the passing on of price reductions. I believe that the policy of granting licences for retail fish businesses with considerable freedom will stimulate traders to pass on such reductions.