§ 83. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that on 31st July in a London market marrows were sold at three for 1d., beans at ½d. per lb., and peas at 1d. per lb.; that these low prices were not sufficiently reflected in retail shops; and if, in order to avoid wastage and give the public the benefit of increased food supplies, he will impose maximum profit margins.
§ Dr. SummerskillMy information is that the most usual wholesale prices at the main London markets on 31st July were 2d. each for marrows, 3d. per lb. for runner beans, and 3½d. per lb. for peas, but retail price information is collected weekly and the figures for the past week are not yet available. It is, I am afraid, quite impracticable to impose maximum profit margins for vegetables of such a highly perishable character and subject to such fluctuating quality and prices.