HC Deb 11 March 1970 vol 797 cc1316-8
3. Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to prevent further increases in the retail price of food to housewives.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)

We are continuing our existing arrangements for price surveillance, which are designed to ensure that increases are consistent with the Government's prices policy.

Sir G. Nabarro

Has not the Minister observed that food prices have risen by 2s. 6d. in the £ since devaluation, by 4s. 10d. in the £ since October, 1964? Is he aware that since devaluation the journal Grocer, has noted 14,828 food price increases? What is the Ministry doing to arrest this rip-roaring inflation?

Mr. Hoy

The figures produced by the Grocer are open to debate. They distort the picture considerably. Between 1964–69 food prices rose by 21.5 per cent., all prices rose by 23.2 per cent. and earnings rose by 38 per cent.

Mr. Godber

Would the right hon. Gentleman add to these interesting figures his confirmation of the fact that during 1969 food prices rose by £357 million or 6.4 per cent., a very large figure, as I am sure he would agreed?

Mr. Hoy

I would like to check that figure. If the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends had their way, prices would be pushed up even further.

Mr. Hazell

Can my hon. Friend tell me by how much food prices would rise if the policies of the Opposition were carried out?

Mr. Hoy

I would not like to answer for the Opposition in that respect, but I do know that food prices would rise substantially.

33. Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as full a list as possible of the increases in food prices between January, 1960, and January, 1965, and January, 1965, and January 1970, respectively, and where actual figures are not available percentage increases, to show the difference in food price increases on a comparative basis between the two stated periods of time.

Mr. Hoy

I regret that information about prices of individual foodstuffs is not available prior to November, 1967, except in respect of the October of each year. Figures showing the increases between October, 1959, and October, 1964, and between October, 1964, and October, 1969, respectively, were given in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 12th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 407–10.]

Mr. Lewis

What a terrible thing that the previous Government did not keep figures! They would have been helpful. But probably hon. Members opposite had something of which to be ashamed. Is my right hon. Friend aware that if on occasion he could publish the fact that his Ministry is not only refusing to grant increases but is instructing some of the manufacturers to reduce prices, this would help the electoral position, which is now definitely improving for us?

Mr. Hoy

Let me say clearly that we have had great co-operation from the food manufacturers.

Sir G. Nabarro

Hear, hear!

Mr. Hoy

Yes, indeed. The hon. Member might think that they should be a little more rebellious and should put up their prices so that people would come and complain to us about them. We have had their co-operation. My Department's comprehensive system of price surveillance covers all significant food and drink prices and over 90 per cent. of consumer expenditure in that sector.

Mr. Prior

Is not the real answer that the Minister should give his hon. Friend that food prices have risen twice as fast under the present Government as under the Conservative Government and that this Government are the first to tax food by imposing the selective employment tax?

Mr. Hoy

The hon. Member has obviously just arrived. [HON. MEMBERS: "Cheap."] May I repeat— [Interruption.]

Mr. Speaker

Order. The noise is too bucolic.

Mr. Hoy

I thought that the hon. Member might not have been present when I answered the original Question—I do not know whether he was—but if he was here, I am sorry for saying that he was not. Between 1964 and 1969 food prices rose by 21.5 per cent. and all prices by 23.2 per cent., so that food prices showed less of a rise, whilst earnings rose during the same period by almost 38 per cent.