§ 42. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the increase in food prices on a percentage basis each year for the last six years.
§ Mr. MackieAccording to the Index of Retail Prices, the percentage increases over the previous year for each of the years 1963–1969 were 2.9, 3.5, 3.6, 2.5, 4.0 and 6.3.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonWill the hon. Gentleman explain how the alarming increases in prices which have had to be accepted by the consuming public relate to the continuing embarrassment of the primary producers?
§ Mr. MackieAn increase in food prices of 21.5 per cent. compared with an earnings increase of 38 per cent. over the last five years does not give much weight to the hon. Gentleman's question.
§ Mr. OrmeCan my hon. Friend give comparable figures of food prices in E.E.C. countries, which will probably show that our prices are very much below those of the countries that we are asked to join?
§ Mr. MackieNot without notice, but I know what my hon. Friend means.
§ Mr. GodberWill the hon. Gentleman try to explain this extraordinary rake's progress of price increases and tell us how much is due to the Government's policies, including the taxation of food through S.E.T. and in other ways?
§ Mr. MackieI presume that the right hon. Gentleman can still read and that he will have read the Reddaway Report, which shows that S.E.T. has had a negligible effect on food prices.