asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he has considered the disparity that exists between the price of hides and the price of boots, making all due allowance for processing costs; and whether he will take steps to have the price of footwear reduced to a level commensurate with the cost of the raw material.

It would not be practicable to regulate the price of footwear by reference only to the cost of one particular raw material. I do not consider that the prices of home-produced footwear generally are unreasonably high. For the purposes of the control of prices the accounts of fell-mongers, tanners and footwear manufacturers are under constant review in my Department.