With the rise in the cost of living it seems
likely that the issue of food taxes will re-emerge. It played a considerable part in the recent by-election at Wandsworth and is, I hear, figuring largely in the eleven contests now proceeding. On Monday Sir Francis Acland read a letter from a constituent to the effect that the prices of meat, "except that of the otherwise utterly condemnable rabbit," were getting quite beyond what poorer people could afford. Only a few days ago Labour Members seized the opportunity provided by an early adjournment motion to draw attention to rising prices and the hardship thereby imposed on low-wage earners and the unemployed. Every year on the Finance Bill the Opposi- tion parties bring forward a proposal to repeal all import duties on "foodstuffs for human consumption." This year it will have more point than ever before.
* * * *
Previous page
