Vol. 164 No. 4
I move amendment No. 1:—
In page 4 to delete the last Recital to the Preamble, lines 21 to 24.
Both these amendments are consequential on the amendment which was proposed and accepted on Committee Stage for the removal of what was then Section 22 of the Bill.
The effect of these amendments is to set the pint free?
Not altogether. The Order which was in force will continue in force until 31st December and the position is that if any Order has to be made after that, it will be made in accordance with the procedure in this Bill, instead of the Supplies and Services Act.
I move amendment No. 2:—
In page 9, to delete paragraph (b) in Section 22, lines 46 to 48.
It, also, is consequential on the change I made on Committee Stage.
I want to say a word about representations I received from the Master Bakers' Association, who suggested that the provision in this Bill which empowers the Minister for Industry and Commerce from time to time to fix a maximum wholesale and retail price for bread is unnecessary and who represented that it implies in some way a reflection upon the bakery trade and those engaged in it. That provision was not intended to have, and indeed, in my view, it does not have that implication. As I said in the course of my remarks on the Second Reading, I considered it to be necessary, when dismantling the existing prices control machinery, to preserve intact the right to control the prices charged for certain essential commodities, without having to wait for a recommendation from a committee of inquiry. I made it quite clear to the Master Bakers' Association that I am not prepared to depart from that position which was indeed arrived at only after very full and careful consideration of all the factors involved.
I do not propose, therefore, to make any alteration in the provisions of Section 17. I want to make quite clear that the decision to insert that section was based on an assessment of what was required in relation to prices and not on any temporary situation——
What other commodities had the Minister in mind?
The Bill specifically mentions bread, butter, milk and sugar.
In fact, there is no control on bread at the moment?
There is no control at the moment.
