§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the price of bread has risen by large amounts on several occasions and that during this period firms in the bread business have increased their profits substantially; whether he will seek powers to enable him to investigate whether there has been profiteering and to prevent it.
§ Mr. PriorSince the Government took office the major plant bakers have made general increases in bread prices on only two occasions, by one old penny per loaf in November, 1970, and by half a new penny per loaf in December, 1971. There was on average a slight reduction when prices were decimalised. I propose to continue to rely on competition to keep price increases to the minimum.