asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether he will state if the Prices Commission has recently intervened in Dublin in cases where it was alleged that unnecessarily high prices were being charged for (1) coal and (2) sugar; and if so, if he will state what were the prices complained of in the case of each of these commodities; and whether any reduction, and, if so, what reduction took place as a result of the intervention of the Commission.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Activities of Prices Commission.
The answer to the question is in the negative, in so far as the Prices Commission is concerned.
A few months ago the Controller of Prices received complaints regarding the wholesale prices charged for bellmen's coal and the retail prices charged for Carlow sugar by certain firms in Dublin. The prices charged for the commodities, which were the subject of complaint, were 30/- per ton and 3d. per lb., respectively. As a result of the investigations made by the Controller, a reduction of 1/- per ton was effected in the wholesale price of bellmen's coal and ½d. per lb. in the retail price of the sugar in question.