HC Deb 23 July 1957 vol 574 cc209-10
38. Mrs. Mann

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland the average retail price of lettuces and tomatoes, to date, for this year; and the average price of these for the same period of last year.

Lord John Hope

My right hon. Friend regrets that information is not available from which average retail prices for these commodities could be deduced.

Mrs. Mann

Will the Joint Undersecretary tell his right hon. Friend that the prices are far too high, very much higher than they are in London'? Is he aware that before these lettuces were nationalised they used to be sold for Id. and now they are still not nationalised they have gone up by 1,400 per cent?

Lord John Hope

I am obliged to the hon. Lady for her information.

Mr. Bence

Is the Joint Under-Secretary aware that when the country was overrun by rabbits lettuces used to be sold for about 3d. a time but that now we have got rid of the rabbits which used to eat lettuces they are 1s. each?

Lord John Hope

Perhaps they ate only the bad lettuce; I do not know.