asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to each of the following commodities: butter, milk, cheese, flakemeal, peas, beans, soap, paraffin oil, beef and mutton, bacon, pork, sausages, eggs, cocoa, jam, milk of magnesia, liver salts, ale, sewing thread, cigarettes, marmalade, petrol, dried fruit, sweets and chocolates, timber, newspapers, newsprints, (a) the increases in prices that have taken place since the 13th June, 1951; (b) whether or not such increases were recommended by the Prices Advisory Body; (c) the date on which such recommendations from the Prices Advisory Body were received by the Government; and (d) whether or not the Prices Advisory Body held public meetings in respect of the applications for such increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Commodity Prices.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to have circulated with the Official Report a statement giving the particulars required by the Deputy so far as available. I am not in a position to give reliable information as to increases in prices of commodities not subject to price control. I would remind the Deputy that recommendations of the Prices Advisory Body are submitted to the Minister for Industry and Commerce and not to the Government.
Following is the statement:
A.
PARTICULARS IN RELATION TO INCREASES IN PRICES OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO PRICE CONTROL, THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE SINCE 13th JUNE, 1951.
|
Commodity |
Increase in price since 13th June, 1951 |
Date of Application |
Whether or not increase was recommended by the Prices Advisory Body |
Date on which recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body was received by the Minister |
Whether or not the Prices Advisory Body held a public sitting in respect of the application for the increase |
|
Butter |
2d. per lb. in the case of creamery butter or imported creamery butter. |
21st June, 1951 (recommendation to the Government). |
Not submitted to Body, the increase being authorised by Government decision. |
— |
— |
|
Milk |
Increases ranging from 1/4d. to 3/4d. per pint in different areas. |
Various dates in April, 1951 (Applications received from different districts). |
Yes |
25/7/51 |
Yes |
|
Cheese |
Cheddar cheese 4d. per lb. |
5th June, 1951. |
Yes |
22/8/51 |
No. |
|
Block,, 5d. ,,,, |
(Distributors). |
||||
|
Cheese sold |
4th July, 1951 |
||||
|
in portions7d. ,, ,, |
(Manufacturers). |
||||
|
Peas and Beans |
Peas—1½d. per 12 oz. packet.Canned peas and beans—increases at the rate of 2d. per lb. |
22nd May, 1951 |
Yes |
28/6/51 |
No. |
|
Soap |
Hard soaps—1d. per 12 ozs.Toilet soaps—1/2d. per 3 oz. tablet. |
7th March, 1951 |
Yes |
6/6/51 |
Yes. |
|
Paraffin Oil |
1½d. per gallon from 27th July, 1951.1/2d. per gallon from 29th October, 1951. |
22nd June, 1951 and 11th October, 1951. |
Yes |
19/7/51 |
No. |
|
Cocoa |
2½d. per qr. lb. |
21st June, 1951. (previously in January and March, 1951). |
No |
— |
— |
|
Ale |
1d. per pint (draught) 1/2d. per half pint (in bottle) |
15th June, 1951 |
Yes |
24/7/51 |
No. |
|
Sewing Thread |
Ranging from 2d. to 2½d. per reel of 100 yards. |
4th May, 1951 |
Yes |
7/7/51 |
No. |
|
Cigarettes |
1/2d. per packet of 10. |
10th April, 1951. 5th September, 1951. |
Yes |
19/10/51 |
No. |
|
Petrol |
1/2d. per gallon from 27th July, 19511½d. per gallon from 29th October, 1951. |
22nd June, 1951. and 11th October, 1951. |
Yes |
19/7/51 |
No. |
|
Sweets & Chocolates |
Increases ranging from 4d. to 1/- per lb. in the cases of certain firms. |
Various dates |
Yes |
Various dates |
No. |
|
Timber |
|||||
|
Imported Whitewood |
Increases ranging from £20 5s. to £25 10s. per standard of 270 cu. ft. |
17th October, 1951 |
Yes |
1/11/51 |
No. |
|
Imported Redwood |
Increases ranging from £11 15s. to £19 15s. per standard of 270 cu. ft. |
17th October, 1951. |
Yes |
1/11/51 |
No. |
|
Pitch Pine |
4s. 2d. per cu. ft. |
11th June, 1951. |
Yes |
27/6/51 |
No. |
|
Douglas Fir |
3s. 8d. per cu. ft. |
11th June, 1951. |
Yes |
— |
— |
The order fixing maximum prices for beef and mutton was revoked on 30th July, 1951, and the Orders relating tobacon and pork were revoked on 27th September, 1951. The prices of sausages, milk of magnesia, liver salts and newsprints were subject to the operation of the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, but were removed from the scope of the Order prior to 13th June, 1951. Eggs ceased to be subject to price control when the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order was revoked on 5th September, 1951. The Orders controlling the prices of home-grown timber, jams and marmalades, and dried fruits were revoked on 3rd September, 1951, 31st October, 1951, and 7th November, 1951, respectively. Newspapers were not subject to price control within the last few years.
As regards flakemeal an Order was made on 18th April, 1951, fixing increased prices for flakemeal sold loose and consequential increases for proprietary packed brands were made on the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body on 31st July, 1951.