asked the Minister for Supplies if the wholesale and retail prices of sugar have been fixed and, if so, if he will state what the prices are.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Sugar Prices.
The wholesale and retail prices of sugar have not been fixed by order. Under the conditions governing the sale of sugar by the Irish Sugar Company the prices at which sugar is to be resold wholesale have been provided and by custom in the trade these prices have heretofore been followed without exception in the trade. I am aware, however, that recently, without the sanction of my Department, wholesale merchants increased the prices provided, by 3½d. per cwt. and I have now made arrangements to have this increase cancelled pending an examination of the grounds for the increase by my Department.
The retail prices of sugar have not, up to the present, been fixed by order and there have been no grounds for complaint in regard to sugar prices in respect of which the margin taken by retailers has been considered quite reasonable. Within the past few days, however, complaints have been received from a number of districts and from these it appears that retail prices have been increased without any justification whatever. I have, therefore, made an order limiting the retail prices of sugar at those charged at the beginning of this year.
Perhaps the Minister will indicate what the figure is—is it 4½d. per lb?
A standstill order has been issued fixing the price in different districts as it was at the beginning of the year.
Will that be 4½d. per lb?
Not in every district. It will be 4½d. in some districts, but it will be different in other districts.