asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state in respect of what goods and prices remedial action was taken by the Prices Branch of his Department since 1st April, 1963.
12.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Control of Prices.
11.
Mr. Ryan
Mr. Ryan
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the number and rank of officers in the Prices Branch of his Department on 1st June, 1963 and at present.
I propose, with the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, to take Questions Nos. 11 and 12 together. In June, 1963, work in relation to prices was carried out as part of the duties assigned to one of the Divisions of my Department. A separate Prices Section was established subsequently, and it is served by one principal officer, one assistant principal officer, one higher executive officer, one professional accountant and one executive officer. The services of nine General Departmental inspectors are also available.
The prices of, and charges for, the following goods and services have been investigated since 1st April, 1963, or are, at present, under investigation: Milk, sugar, soap, jams and marmalades, canned and processed foods, biscuits, bread, flour, bacon, sausages, oatmeal, cornflakes, sweets, drugs and medicines, furniture, knitting wool, school books, golden syrup, cider and cidona, laundry charges, men's hairdressing charges.
Mr. Ryan
Might I refer the Minister to the question, which asks him to state in respect of what goods and prices remedial action has been taken? The Minister recently said that remedial action has been taken in relation to certain goods. Will he now state what those goods are?
The Deputy is aware from published official information that the proposed increase in the price of sugar was reduced from 1½d to 1d per 1b. A prices advisory committee sat in respect of soap and reported that having regard to the increase in the weight of soap tablets and other changes in the manner of presentation and sale, no action was justified. As a result of departmental activity, proposed increases in other commodities were averted.
Mr. Ryan
I am trying to help the Minister. Will he specify the items? He has given a list of what seem to be about two dozen items which are being investigated but is able to quote only one case in which remedial action was taken.
In the bulk of the cases I have quoted in the original reply, the investigations are pending.
Mr. Ryan
So there is only one case.