asked the Minister for Supplies whether, in view of his decision to reduce the margin of profit allowed to wholesalers and retailers in the drapery trade, he is prepared to investigate the margin of profit in the case of various other commodities with a view to fixing, in respect of such commodities, lower wholesale and retail prices.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Fixing of Lower Prices.
The margins of profit taken by wholesalers and retailers on the sale of a wide range of commodities, including all essential commodities, have been the subject of investigation in my Department during the whole period of the emergency. Most of these commodities are the subject of Orders fixing specific maximum wholesale and retail prices, thus limiting the margins taken by wholesalers and retailers to the lowest levels considered equitable in the circumstances of sale of each particular commodity. In some cases, as in the case of clothing, the maximum trading margins are fixed by Order. Traders' margins which are thus covered by Order are continually under review in my Department, and I do not think that special investigation, as suggested by the Deputy, with a view to reducing these margins is necessary.
The Minister will recall that when the margins were fixed for clothing there was considerable doubt amongst the ordinary public as to the wisdom of fixing such high margins and while I appreciate that his Department has this matter under continuous review, will he not consider giving special consideration to the question of children's footwear, the prices of which are abnormally high and out of the reach of the ordinary working people?
There are no men's boots at all.
It is only in the case of footwear and clothing that control of prices is exercised by restriction of the margin of profit which traders may take. In the case of other commodities, there are specific maximum prices which cannot be exceeded. In the case of those commodities where the control is exercised by means of restriction on the margin of profit, that margin has been reviewed and has been, in fact, reduced by Order.
Do you know that there are no men's boots at all? Did you discover that?