Food Prices

HC Deb 06 December 1956 vol 561 cc1423-6

9. Mrs. Mann

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has considered the protest from the National Union of Small Shopkeepers concerning the threatened increase in the price of jams and jellies affecting 300 brands; and what reply he has sent.

15. Mr. Burke

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he has taken in response to the appeal of the National Union of Small Shopkeepers urging him, on their behalf, to make representations to food manufacturers about the frequent increases in the prices of their products.

Mr. Amory

The union has been informed that I do not consider that the course it suggests is warranted.

Mrs. Mann

Am I to take it from that reply that the right hon. Gentleman intends to take no steps at all to control these prices? Does he now admit that there is going to be a great increase in all prices, in complete distinction to what he said last week, when he told the nation that there would be no increases of price?

Mr. Amory

If the hon. Lady looks at what I said last week, she will see that that was not precisely what I said. I said that I saw no reason why the Suez crisis should give grounds for any general and serious increase in food prices. I have no reason to change the opinion I expressed last week.

Mr. Baldwin

Does not my right hon. Friend think that the way to satisfy the housewife is to point out to her how cheap fruit has been and that if she wants cheaper jams she should buy the fruit and make the jam herself?

Mr. Amory

I have always expressed the opinion that the housewife can influence these results very considerably if she determines to do so.

10. Mrs. Mann

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the prices of sugar and tea are to be increased as a result of the Suez crisis; and if he will now take steps, by price control or otherwise, to avoid such increases taking place in the immediate future.

Mr. Amory

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member and others on 29th November.

Mrs. Mann

Is the Minister aware that his replies are disastrous to the nation? His replies indicate that we will probably have strikes because of his failure to control these prices. Sugar will be decontrolled in January and it is, therefore, going up in price, not because of the Suez crisis, but merely because of some people seeking extra profit at a time of national emergency.

Mr. Amory

As regards the first part of the hon. Lady's question, it is just because I realise how very important it is that the nation should get its food at the most reasonable prices possible that I am sure that the methods I am pursuing are right. As regards the second part of her question, I do not know why she assumes that the price of sugar will necessarily go up on 1st January.

Mrs. Mann

It will.

11. Mrs. Mann

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that shortage of petrol or increase in price of petrol will cause increases in prices of vegetables and other food; and if he will take steps, by price control or otherwise, to avoid such increases for a period of at least six months.

Mr. Amory

No, Sir.

Mrs. Mann

Am I to take it that the Minister is so blind that he cannot see what a blind man would feel with his stick? Will he define for us what are the duties of a Minister of Food during a national emergency?

Mr. Amory

The duties of a Minister of Food, as I understand it, are to do what he can to ensure that the nation is well-fed, and fed at reasonable prices. That is my objective.

Mr. Willey

In view of the fact that the price of petrol is going up as a result of direct Government action, will the right hon. Gentleman accept, as one of his responsibilities, a careful review of price changes, in order to see that wherever necessary the Government intervene to see that those price changes are no higher than is absolutely necessary?

Mr. Amory

I agree with the hon. Member that the increased price of fuel will be one factor in the cost of food, which will temporarily go up, but there are very many other factors in the cost of food. The hon. Lady's Question deals particularly with vegetables. I do not think that supplies of vegetables have been better or more ample for a long time—certainly not during the last two or three years—and the prices are reasonable.

Mr. Shurmer

Why is it that the right hon. Gentleman and his right hon. Friends continue to say that there is no increase in the cost of living, when there is not a housewife in the country who will not tell him that every week when she gets her grocery bill there is a halfpenny on this and a penny on that? Why do Ministers say that there has been no increase in the price of food?

Mr. Amory

The hon. Member will no doubt keep his eye on the cost of living index.

Mr. Shurmer

Ask my wife.