asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in relation to each of the following commodities: unrationed sugar, unrationed butter, condensed milk, confectionery, table jellies, salt, coffee, sauces, vinegar, coal, gas, electricity, turf, boot polish, floor polish, chemical drugs, footwear, bus fares, tobacco, (a) what increases in prices have taken place since the 13th June, 1951; (b) whether or not such increases were recommended by the Prices Advisory Body; (c) the date such recommendations from the Prices Advisory Body were received by him, and (d) whether or not the Prices Advisory Body held public sittings in respect of the applications for such increases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Prices Advisory Body's Recommendation.
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.
With regard to increases in prices of commodities which are not subject to price control I would refer the Deputy to my reply to a similar question by him on 29th November, 1951.
Following is the statement referred to:—
PARTICULARS IN RELATION TO INCREASES SANCTIONED BY THE MINISTER FOR INDUSTRY AND COMMERCE SINCE 13th JUNE, 1951, IN PRICES OF CERTAIN COMMODITIES AND SERVICES
|
Commodity |
Increases in prices since 13th June, 1951 |
Date of Application |
Date on which recommendation of Prices Advisory Body was received by Minister |
Effective date of Increase |
|
Sugar (unrationed) |
1d. |
1st June, 1951 |
Application not referred to Body |
½d.—6th Sept., 1951.½d.—1st Nov., 1951. |
|
Condensed Milk |
Condensed full cream milk: 1½d. and 2d. per tin. |
16th May, 1951 |
25th June, 1951 |
7th July, 1951. |
|
Condensed skimmed milk: 1½d. per tin. |
||||
|
Confectionery (Sweets and Chocolates). |
Ranging from 4d. to 1/- per lb. in certain cases. |
Various dates |
Various dates |
Various dates. |
|
Table Jellies |
½d. per tablet (2 manufacturers) |
9th March, 1951 |
14th June, 1951 |
12th July, 1951. |
|
Coal |
Various increases in different areas, ranging from 5/- to £1 per ton. |
Various dates |
Various dates |
Various dates. |
|
Gas |
Various increases ranging from 1.25d. per therm to 5.4d. per therm in different areas. |
Do. |
Do. |
Do. |
|
Electricity |
0.3d. per unit.0.2d. per unit for night storage heating. |
24th April, 1951 |
Application not referred to Body |
1st August, 1951. |
|
Bus Fares: (Operators other than C.I.E.) |
Within 8 miles of G.P.O. Dublin ?d. per mile.Outside 8 miles of G.P.O. Dublin ¼d. per mile. |
20th June, 1951 |
Application not referred to Body |
4th Sept., 1951 |
|
Tobacco |
Hard plug—1½d. per oz.Roll and Coil—2d. per oz.Cut Plug, Flake, etc.—1d. to 4d. per oz. |
5th Sept., 1951and10th Oct., 1951 |
17th October, 1951 |
5th Nov., 1951. |
As creamery butter is not available except on ration, a price for unrationed creamery butter is not fixed.
In all cases increased prices and charges were sanctioned on the recommendation of the Prices Advisory Body except in the cases of electricity, bus fares, and sugar. The Prices Advisory Body held a public sitting in connection with the application for an increase in the price of coal in Dublin.
The prices of sauces, vinegar, boot polish, floor polish, chemical drugs, and footwear were subject to the operation of the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order, 1951, but were removed from the scope of the Order prior to the 13th June, 1951. Salt, coffee and turf ceased to be subject to price control when the Prices and Charges (Standstill) Order was revoked on 5th September, 1951.