§ 2.35 p.m.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether there have been any further exchanges of view between the National Farmers' Union and the Ministry of Agriculture concerning meat supplies and the availability, to the Union, of more detailed information on the retail prices of meat than already supplied.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)My Lords, there have been no further exchanges. The request made by the National Farmers' Union related to information on meat prices that would be comparable as between farm and shop. The Union were informed in mid-February that the individual price quotations collected by the Ministry of Labour were not sufficiently representative and reliable to enable comparisons of this kind to be made, nor proof against misleading inferences. Though naturally disappointed at the outcome, I am sure the unions now appreciate the considerable technical difficulties involved.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, am I to understand from that Answer that the National Farmers' Union realise that we are not going to get any further on this matter with the Ministry of Agriculture?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, I am not sure whether that observation was in the form of a supplementary question. I did not hear the first words.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYI am sorry. I did say, I think, "Am I to understand from that…".
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, what I hope was clear from my reply was that the National Farmers' Union understand the difficulties of producing the figures they have requested.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, would the noble Lord not agree that it would be a good idea if my noble friend were to suggest that the magazine Which? should consider this matter and provide the information that Her Majesty's Government obviously are not prepared to give?
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, would my noble friend agree that it would be a good idea if, to allay public anxiety on the price of meat, Her Majesty's Government published the weekly or monthly prices of meat which are collected by the Ministry of Labour in order to compile the cost-of-living index figure?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, those are the figures which I said were not sufficiently representative, or proof against misleading inferences, for us to publish them with that end in view.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, if the noble Lord says that those figures are not representative and are misleading, how can they possibly be incorporated in the cost-of-living index, which guides the salaries and wages of millions of people in this country? That is exactly what he said. Is that what he means?
LORD ST. OSWALDThey are collected, as the noble Lord himself has pointed out, for a different purpose.
§ BARONESS SUMMERSKILLMy Lords, as I understand that a special cost-of-living index is being compiled for the old-age pensioners, could the noble Lord tell us which cuts of meat are to be related to that cost-of-living index?
§ LORD STONHAMIs the noble Lord aware that his noble friend Lord Jellicoe said in the House on Monday that food, including meat, which cost 13s. wholesale was sold retail at 30s. 9d. Can the noble Lord say whether on meat that is the average on-cost from wholesale to retail?
LORD ST. OSWALDMy Lords, I do not think the noble Lord, Lord Stonham, considers that that arises from the original Question.