63. Mrs. Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in order to protect the consumer, and in view of the increases in retail prices of milk, bacon, flour and bread over the last six years, if he will introduce legislation to give himself powers to control retail prices of these commodities.
§ Mr. SoamesOver the period selected by the hon. Lady the prices of milk, bacon and flour have risen less than the cost of living as a whole. This is also true of bread since prices were decontrolled in September, 1956. Maximum retail prices for milk are, in fact, still prescribed under the Emergency Powers (Repeal) Act, 1959. I do not propose to reintroduce price control for the other commodities.