§ 9. Sir H. Harrisonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that in the last ten years the guaranteed price for homegrown wheat has fallen by 4 per centnd that of imported wheat by 10 per cent., but the price of flour has risen by 64 per cent. and the produce of bakers by 145 per cent.; and what steps he is taking to protect consumers or to help producers of wheat.
§ Mr. SoamesThe basic facts are not quite as stated in the Question. The price of the 280 lb. sack of flour for bread making increased over the ten years between the end of 1951 and 1961 by 48s. 3d., or 84 per cent.; but the greater part of this—45s.—was due to the removal of the flour subsidy. In the same period the price of the standard 1¾ lb. loaf increased by 6d., or 100 per cent.; a further increase of ½dccurred in February: but about half of the 6dncrease was due to the removal of the subsidies: the remainder arose from the general increase in costs. Consumers benefit from competitive conditions and a wide freedom of choice. Wheat producers are protected by the guarantees under the 1947 and 1957 Agriculture Acts.
§ Sir H. HarrisonI am very grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply, but I draw his attention to the fact that these figures have been widely quoted by a Labour peer, Lord Walston, and have therefore caused a great deal of dismay to the farming industry and others. I shall be grateful if prominence can be given to the correct figures.
§ Mr. SoamesI am grateful to my hon. and gallant Friend for giving me the opportunity of replying to the Question.