Food Prices (Hansard, 19 November 1952)

§ 7. Mr. Dodds
asked the Minister of Food by how much the cost of rations for a family of four has risen since October, 1951; what action is being taken to reduce the cost of food; and when it is expected that this will be effective.

§ The Minister of Food (Major Lloyd George)
Rations for a week at present levels for a family of four, including one 1839 child under five years of age, now cost about 3s. 9d. more than they would have cost in October, 1951. On the basis of ration levels at October, 1951, the increase would be rather less.
As regards the other matters raised in the Question. I would refer the hon. Member to the remarks of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Huyton (Mr. H. Wilson) on 21st October.

§ Mr. Dodds
But will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not answer that part of the Question that was not answered by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, which asks when it is expected that this will be effective—that is, when the cost of living will be reduced? Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman deny or denounce the figures in the "Financial Times" which show that from 24th October, 1951, until the end of August, 1952, for a family of four the increase was from 16s. 10d. to 22s. 2½d.—an increase of nearly 32 per cent.? Have not this Government a very miserable performance in keeping promises?

§ Major Lloyd George
The figures I gave are the correct figures for the period about which the hon. Gentleman asks. So far as his other questions are concerned, he will observe that my right hon. Friend said that there were indications of a more stable basis, and if he would care to look at the cost-of-living index he will find that, even with the increase due to the increase in October, food is below what it was in July.

§ 8. Mr. Dodds
asked the Minister of Food what food prices have been reduced since 1st August, 1952; and in what foods price reductions can be expected in the next few months.

§ Mr. Dodds
I hope we may have a more reasonable answer to this Question.

§ Major Lloyd George
It depends upon what the hon. Gentleman means by "reasonable." I am not sure whether he means reasonable to him or to me.
Between 12th August and 14th October, the latest date for which the Interim Index information is available, there were reductions in the average prices of fruit and vegetables, canned ham and 1840 tea. As regards the second part of the Question, I would again refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's remarks.

§ Captain Pilkington
Ought not the Government to be congratulated on having in one year checked the steep rise in the cost of living?

§ 29. Mrs. Mann
asked the Minister of Food if he will now conduct a survey into the increased prices of all grocery and household items released from control in order to ascertain accurately the real increase in the cost of living.

§ Major Lloyd George
No, Sir. The Interim Index of Retail Prices already provides an accurate measure of the effect of price changes on the cost of living.

§ Mrs. Mann
Is the Minister aware that the Interim Index of Retail Prices never gives details? It certainly does not give details of items which have been released from control, and the housewives are complaining that there are about 95 such items of food. The Interim Index does not reflect this position.

§ Major Lloyd George
The hon. Lady ought to appreciate that the Index which we are using at present was put forward as a result of the very careful examination carried out by an advisory committee which was set up by the last Administration and first came into operation in January of this year. In passing, I would say that the hon. Lady and some of her hon. Friends are only too happy to use the Index if they think it is to their political advantage.