asked the Minister for Supplies whether any prices have been fixed by his Department for new or second-hand juvenile cycles apart from the prices fixed for bicycles for adults; and, if not, whether it is intended to do so.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Cycles for Juveniles.
Maximum prices have not been fixed for new or second-hand juvenile bicycles apart from the prices fixed for bicycles tor adults, and it is not intended to do so. The prices fixed for bicycles are ceiling prices, and there is no differentiation between bicycles of different grade. The difference in price between unused adult and juvenile bicycles was never very considerable, and in fact many makes of boys' and girls' bicycles were dearer than popular adults' models. There are very few new juvenile bicycles on the market to-day, as I understand that British manufacturers have been prohibited from making these models for the last three years. It would be difficult to establish an all-round reasonable price for second-hand juvenile bicycles, and as there would be little, if any, difference between such price and the £8 ceiling price for used adult bicycles, I consider any benefit which might accrue would be offset by the difficulty in enforcement.
Surely the Minister does not seriously suggest that, pre-war, the price of juveniles' bicycles was the same as for adults' bicycles?
I actually suggest that there were many makes of juveniles' bicycles which were sold at a higher price than popular makes of adults' bicycles.
Is the Minister not aware that the pre-war price of juveniles' bicycles was one-fifth or one-fourth that of adults' bicycles?
I would not agree at all.