§ Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Minister of Labour the main reductions in the prices of vegetables and fruit during the past 12 months; and to what extent such reductions have been responsible for stabilising the cost of living during this period.
§ Mr. WatkinsonBecause of the seasonal fluctuations in the prices of vegetables and fruit, it is best to compare the latest available prices with those for the corresponding month of the previous year. At mid-December, 1953, the average prices of tomatoes, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, carrots, turnips, onions, canned processed peas, oranges and canned plums were all lower than in December, 1952, the reductions ranging from 7 per cent. to 45 per cent. The effect of these reductions in stabilising the retail prices index during 1953 may be judged from the fact that they are equivalent to a change of 0.6 in the index figure of retail prices and roughly offset the increases in the prices of butter, margarine, cooking fat, sugar and syrup which occurred in the autumn.