§ 9. Mr. Edwin Wainwrightasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Portection what is the retail price per ton of frozen chips at the latest available date; and how that figure compares with the prices during the corresponding dates of 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1977.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe information is not available in the precise form requested, but I will circulate in the Official Report the data that are to hand. They show that the average retail price of frozen chips and other frozen convenience potato products fell by 47 per cent. in the 12 months to April this year.
§ Mr. WainwrightDoes my hon. Friend realise that last year's potato crop was the best for three years? Is he aware that, in spite of that, the buyers and sellers of potatoes and frozen chips—who are friends of the Tory Party—have kept prices high? Is he further aware that because of the high price of potatoes we are importing frozen chips? Will he for goodness sake keep a more watchful eye on this and have discussions with the Secretary of State for Trade to see whether we can stop the importation of frozen chips?
§ Mr. MaclennanI am glad to be able to report that the price in pence per pound has fallen from 30.63p last year to 16.17p this year The price for frozen potato products was, on average only 1p per pound more expensive in April of this year than it was in 1975
§ Mr. John EllisIrrespective of my hon. Friend's reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that people of no political persuasion are asking Members of Parliament why it is that in a year when there has been a better potato crop than ever before potatoes are being destroyed? It is not only that we are importing them; if we have the damned things, why do we not sell them cheaply?
§ Mr. MaclennanMy hon. Friend did not, perhaps, hear the answer I gave earlier, which was to the effect that the price of frozen potatoes—about which this Question is principally concerned—has dropped dramatically by 47 per cent. in the past year. That reflects the lower producers' costs to which he has referred.
§ Following are the data:
| FROZEN CHIPS AND OTHER FROZEN CONVENIENCE POTATO PRODUCTS | ||
| Average retail price | ||
| pence per lb. | equivalent per ton (£) | |
| April 1974 | 12.43 | 278.43 |
| April 1975 | 15.17 | 339.81 |
| April 1976 | 30.61 | 685.66 |
| April 1977 | 30.63 | 686.11 |
| April 1978 | 16.17 | 362.21 |
§ Source: National Food Survey.