HC Deb 26 February 1973 vol 851 cc1049-51
17. Mr. John

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent in his agricultural responsibility in Wales he undertakes the monitoring of food prices.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

Responsibility for food prices lies with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. John

Does the Minister of State realise that the indifference shown yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on "The World this Weekend" programme gave no reassurance to the people of Wales, who are desperately anxious about the escalation in food prices in the last few months? Does the hon. Gentleman realise that in an area in which there is a lower average wage than the rest of the United Kingdom, it is of the first importance that the Welsh Office should monitor food prices? Does he not think that this would be a better activity than holding Fanfare for Europe junketings in St. Donat's Castle.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I am surprised that the hon. Gentleman needs to bang on about that last point. I can only say that the transfer of functions order which was passed by his Government in 1969 precludes me from giving him an answer on his first point.

Mr. McBride

I direct the attention of the Secretary of State to the fact that he represents Wales in the Cabinet and that if he is not aware of the necessity to monitor food prices, my constituents are, suffering as they do from a 25 per cent. increase in prices since the present incompetent administration took office. As regards the Question about Welsh beef prices, which the Prime Minister refused to answer, did the right hon. and learned Gentleman say in the Cabinet that this represented a serious matter? My constituents believe, as I do, that Welsh beef should go to Welsh tables at the cheapest possible prices.

Mr. Gibson-Watt

I do not in any way underestimate the importance of food prices. As I said in my original answer, however, and in my reply to the first supplementary question, this does not fall to me to answer.

Mr. Elystan Morgan

Has it ever entered the minds of Ministers in the Welsh Office that food prices in Wales are considerably higher on average than they are in the United Kingdom? Are they not aware that there is a plentitude of evidence that prices are even higher in rural areas? Will they reconsider the answers which they have given and set up a system for monitoring these prices?

Mr. Gibson-Watt

The hon. Gentleman has made a fairly sweeping statement. I should like to have, sometime, an opportunity to look at it.