HC Deb 31 July 1975 vol 896 cc2034-5
7. Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a comparative list of prices in respect of horticultural products for the United Kingdom and other members of the EEC.

Mr. Strang

With permission, I shall publish in the Official Report such retail prices as we have for February 1975, the most recent month for which figures are readily available.

Mr. Marshall

Will the Minister accept that those figures, whatever they may be, do not show the degree of subsidy which is occurring within the EEC, in terms of both credits and heating costs, particularly in the glasshouse sector? In this situation, the NFU is unable to obtain a detailed picture of subsidies within the EEC. What is the Minister's Department doing, within the dialogue in Brussels, to get more information? Will the Minister take a less complacent tone about this industry than he has done recently, given that we are only half way through the season and that problems of inflation still bear heavily?

Mr. Strang

As the hon. Gentleman recognises, it is very difficult to obtain a clear picture of the various aids which

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF HORTICULTURAL PRODUCTS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND OTHER EEC COUNTRIES IN FEBRUARY 1975
Pence per lb.
Belgium Denmark Federal Republic of Germany France Irish Republic Netherlands United Kingdom
Apples … … 10.4 13.8 10.8 10.4 — 8.4 15.3
Cabbage … … — 4.3 5.9 — 11.4* 6.0 5.9
Carrots … … 8.2 12.9 9.2 8.6 11.5 8.5 7.2
Cauliflower … … 39.7* 20.5 14.1 11.7 — 34.5* 12.9
Onions … … 7.1 12.3 10.3 7.6 12.0 6.2 6.7
Tomatoes … … 42.5 51.3 32.0 27.2 33.6 — 31.2
* Pence per head.

Sources:

United Kingdom—General Index of Retail Prices.

Other Countries—National Publications.

Notes:

Owing to differences in varieties, grades and methods of presentation these prices are not necessarily comparable one with another.

Comparable figures for Italy are not available