§ Mr. Stubbsasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the large profits by the sale of ice cream of poor quality; and what steps he intends to take to see that ice cream is made under a formula laid down by statutory regulations and at a reasonable price.
§ Mr. StracheyMy divisional food officers will gladly investigate complaints that unreasonable prices have been charged. We could not introduce statutory price control in this field unless we could prescribe a standard of composition. My expert Food Standards Committee has just recommended, after consultation with local authorities and the trade, that while a standard for ice cream is unquestionably desirable it would be impracticable to introduce one at present, owing to the shortage of ingredients. A satisfactory standard could only be imposed at the cost of reducing supplies, which would of course, increase the upward pressure on prices.