§ 82. Dr. Santo Jegerasked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the fact that the lifting of price controls of vegetables has resulted in greatly increased cost, he will take steps to protect consumers.
§ Mr. StracheyI am glad to say that my hon. Friend is mistaken in believing that there has been any general increase in vegetable prices since de-control. Taking the London area figures as an example, cabbage, beet and turnips are down, cauliflowers and swedes are the same, sprouts are a penny a lb. up. On 371W the other hand the lifting of price control from these vegetables is in the nature of an experiment and if prices rise to unreasonable levels control will certainly be reimposed at once.