§ 3.13 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 they are now able to announce their decision concerning the publication of farm or first-hand selling prices and the retail prices of some fresh fruit and vegetables where requisite information in the desired form is available to them.]
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD (LORD ST. OSWALD)My Lords, the Question on the Order Paper to-day is virtually identical with that asked by the noble Lady on 21st February, and so must the sense of my Answer be. It 190 would be possible for my Department to secure some retail price quotations for fruit and vegetables, from trade and other sources, and set these alongside the quotations at first wholesale market which have been secured for many years. But the Government would have to be satisfied that the material was sufficiently comprehensive and reliable, especially since the object would be to make comparisons. On 21st February the noble Lord, Lord Taylor, implied in a supplementary question that any figures could be put out if they were qualified by footnotes relating to possible errors. The Government cannot accept that at all. We have a responsibility not to mislead the public, and I am afraid that after the examination which I promised the noble Lady on 21st February in the best of faith, I find there is no single commodity in the fresh fruit and vegetable field which does not involve that risk.
§ BARONESS BURTON OF COVENTRYMy Lords, without wishing to seem discourteous, is the noble Lord aware that he seems to be making heavy weather of this matter. Is he aware that I have noted what he said, and does he realise that the Questions are the same because the Answers are always "No"? Lastly does he realise that I hope we can go a stage further next week in this matter?