asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if his attention has been drawn to current reports in relation to the proposed purchase by large milling and bakery businesses in this country of smaller concerns, and if he will take steps to ensure that such transactions will not interfere with the amenities of the rural community, the small milling and bakery concerns and the workers concerned.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers (resumed). - Purchase of Milling and Bakery Concerns.
I have no powers to prevent flour mills from acquiring bakeries or to prevent bakeries from selling their businesses to flour mills. Where the business acquired comes within the scope of the Control of Manufactures Acts, 1932 and 1934, or the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Acts, 1933 to 1956, the provisions of those Acts would, of course, apply.
Would the Minister not agree that this development is nationally undesirable? I suggest it contravenes the spirit, if not the letter, of the fair trading regulations.
I do not think the Fair Trade Commission has anything whatever to do with this matter. If the letter of the two Acts mentioned by me is infringed, it would be possible to deal with the matter under either or both. I have, however, no power to prevent a mill acquiring a bakery and no power to prevent a bakery agreeing to sell its business to a mill. In fact, as the Deputy knows, two of the largest bakeries in the country are operated by mills at present.