§ 62. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food the controlled retail price of all foods coming within the purview of his Department at 1st October, 1951; and the price of these commodities at the latest convenient stated date.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs the reply contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. LewisCan the Minister say whether generally there has been an increase, or whether there has been a decrease since controls have come off these commodities.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAs the hon. Member knows, as my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated in his Budget speech, there would be an increase on certain items as a result of the lower subsidies.
§ Mr. LewisBut is that not directly contrary to promises we keep getting from the Government, who keep saying that the prices of food are going down? Can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us when they are going down?
§ Following is the information:
| The following table gives the maximum retail prices of the foods listed at 1st October 1951 and 17th October, 1952: | ||||
| Commodity | Unit | Maximum retail prices | Remarks | |
| at 1st October, 1951 | at 17th October, 1952 | |||
| Bacon | lb. | about 2s. 7d. (weighted average) | about 3s. 10d. (weighted average) | |
| Bananas | lb. | 1s. 0d. | 1s. 0d. | |
| Bread | 1¾ lb. | 6d. | 7½d. | |
| Butter | lb. | 2s. 6d. | 3s. 0d. | |
| Cheese (rationed) | lb. | 1s. 2d. | 2s. 2d. | |
| Chocolate and Chocolate Confectionery | — | various | various | No change in price between the two dates. |
| Compound Cooking Fat | lb. | 1s. 4d. | 1s. 6d. | |
| Condensed Milk (canned) | — | various | various | Increases of 1d.-2d. per can. See relevant Order (S.I. 1951 No. 1722 and S.I. 1952 No. 1068). |
| Cream (clotted) | lb. | 6s. 6d. | 7s. 6d. | |
| Dried Fruits | — | various | various | No change in price between the two dates. |
| Dripping | lb. | 1s. 4½d. | 1s. 4½d. | |
| Eggs | dozen | 3s.-5s. | 3s.-5s. | The price range reflects different grades. |
| Fish (canned imported) | Numerous types and sizes. | various | various | See relevant Orders (S.I. 1951 No. 1561 and S.I. 1952 No. 328). There has been no change in retail prices between the two dates. |
| Flour—self raising | lb. | 4¾d. | 6¼d. | |
| plain | lb. | 4d. | 5¾d. | |
| Fruit (imported canned). | Tins with contents varying from 11 oz. to 100 oz. | 1s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. | 1s. 6d. to 8s. 6d. | |
| Lard | lb. | 1s. 4d. | 1s. 6d. | |
| Margarine | lb. | 1s. 2d. | 1s. 4d. | |
| Meat | lb. | 1s. 8d. | 2s. 0d. | |
| (weighted average) | (weighted average) | |||
| Meat Products (including canned meats). | Numerous types and sizes | various | various | For price changes see relevant Orders (S.I. 1951 No. 1317 and S.I. 1952 Nos. 1124 and 1619). |
| Milk—ordinary | pint | 5½d. | 6½d. | |
| Potatoes | 7 lb. | 1s. 0½d. | 1s. 1¼d. | |
| (weighted average) | (weighted average) | |||
| Rice (whole) | lb. | 10d. | 1s. 1d | |
| Sausages—Beef (in hog casings) | lb. | 1s. 6½d. | 1s. 10½d. | |
| Sausages—Pork (in hog casings) | lb. | 2s. 2d. | 2s. 7½d. | |
| Sugar (domestic granulated) | lb. | 6d. | 7d | |
| Sugar Confectionery | — | various | various | Increase in price of 2d. per lb. between the two dates |
| Syrup and Treacle | lb. | 10d | 10½d. |