§ 19. Mr. Kenneth Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in the next Price Review, he will take into account the increasing price of food in the shops compared with the prices being received by the farmers.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesGuaranteed prices are determined following the Annual Review, at which all relevant factors relating to the economic condi- 1242 tion and prospects of the agricultural industry are examined. But the review is not directly concerned with retail food prices as such or the economics of food processing and distribution.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many farmers think that they are increasing productivity simply in order to give higher profits to the middle man and the supermarkets? Will he bear in mind the prosperity of the supermarkets and try to make the farmers as prosperous?
§ Mr. HughesThe farmers have put the points which the hon. Gentleman has made. But it is an over-simplification to make comparisons between farm gate and retail prices without considering the economics of the food distribution and processing industries.