§ 114. Mr. A. Lewisasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that secondhand tyre dealers are now selling tyres which were bought from the Government at 5s. each, for prices between £2 5s. and £3 5s.; and what steps he proposes to take to present this overcharging.
§ Mr. BelcherOnly a very small proportion of the tyres on scrap rubber dumps are suitable for further use and most of these are suitable only for retreading. The price paid for all car tyres removed is 5s. each, which is the price which retreaders are prepared to pay for casings suitable for retreading. Dealers may obtain higher prices for the few tyres capable of further use without retreading, and this compensates them for the time and labour involved in searching the dumps. If would not be practicable to fix maximum prices for secondhand tyres.