§ 60. Mr. Collinsasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that although the wholesale price of green onions has varied from 2d. to 3d. per 1b. and has now dropped to ½d. per 1b. so that growers find them unsaleable, the retail price has in most cases been maintained at the permitted maximum of 10d. per 1b.; and what steps he proposes to take in future to protect the consumer and avoid similar losses to the farmers.
§ Mr. StracheyThere have been local surpluses of spring onions recently, and I am glad to say that prices at all stages have been lower than the maximum prices prescribed in the Green Onions Order. It is impossible to adapt a Maximum Price Order to the daily fluctuations of supply and demand. Still on 15th June and until 14th July the maximum retail price was reduced from 10d. to 8d. per 1b., and will be reduced to 5d. per 1b. on 15th July. The most usual range of retail prices during the three weeks ended 14th June was from 6d. to 10d. per lb. and during that period a growing number of retail shops were selling at prices below the prescribed maximum. We reckon that 35 per cent. were so selling in the week ended 31st May, 38 per cent. in the following week, and 48 per cent. in the week ended 14th June.