(South Tipperary) asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will list the goods on which three months notice of proposed advance in prices is required to be furnished to his Department by importers, wholesalers and manufacturers, giving dates when such orders were imposed; and whether similar instructions were issued to retailers.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Proposed Price Increases.
22.
The requirement under the Prices Acts, 1958 and 1965 by which manufacturers, importers and wholesalers of certain commodities are obliged to give me advance notice of intention to increase prices or margins, was brought into force by way of notices published by me on 27th October, 1965 and on 30th November, 1965. The requirement does not apply to retailers. With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to have the list of commodities to which the requirement at present applies included in the Official Report.
Following is the list:
List of commodities to which the requirement of giving advance notice of intention to increase prices or margins at present applies.
Bacon (including cooked ham or gammons)
Meat rolls
Sausages
Black and White Puddings
Tinnod Fish
Lard
Milk
Bread (including confectionery)
Flour (household and bakers')
Oatmeal
Rice, sago, tapioca, semolina and cornflour
Packed, tinned and bottled foodstuffs
Tea
Coffee and coffee preparations
Cocoa
Sugar and sugar products
Salt and other condiments
Sweets and chocolates and sugar confectionery
Biscuits
Breakfast cereals
Dried fruit
Yeast
Bakers' compound
Treacle
Wearing apparel of all descriptions, including umbrellas
Footwear of all descriptions
Mattresses, sheets, blankets, pillows and pillow cases, quilts and other descriptions of bedding
Textile piece goods of all descriptions
Matches
Stationery
Pens and pencils
Bicycles, component parts and accessories
Mechanically propelled vehicles, including parts and accessories
Perambulators
Toys
Papers, magazines and periodicals
School books
Radio and Television sets
Artificial fertilisers
Agricultural machinery
Wallpaper
Petroleum products
Coal
Gas
Turf
Electricity
Candles
Paraffin oil
Intoxicating liquor of all descriptions
Soft drinks of all descriptions
Cigarettes
Tobacco
Domestic furniture, including textiles of all descriptions
Domestic floor coverings of all descriptions
Textile towels, dusters, dish cloths and like articles
Cutlery
Pottery, China and Earthen and Plastic ware
Glassware
Household utensils
Brushes
Domestic electric appliances of all descriptions
Domestic non-electric appliances of all descriptions
Soap and detergents
Boot polish
Floor polishes and waxes
Toothpaste
Toilet paper
Razor blades
Cosmetics
Drugs and medicines
Adhesives
Abrasives
Artisans' tools
Building materials and accessories
Plastic pipes and tubes
Paints
Leather and leather products other than footwear
Ropes, twines, etc.
Sacks, bags and containers of all descriptions
Office furniture, machines and requisites
Watches, clocks and other precision measuring instruments
Knitting wools
Yarns, natural and synthetic.
Will the Minister agree that, in fact, the provisions of the orders have not been complied with and that there have been increases over a large number of commodities that were not sanctioned?
I could not say anything about that.
The Minister knows very well.
The object was to limit price rises as much as possible. The Minister is doing all he can about that.