§ 6. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food what action he took during the year ended December, 1954, to stabilise and reduce food prices; and whether he will give details as to the number of food items that fell in price due to the action taken by his Department; arid to what extent these prices fell below the level operating in the years 1953, 1952 and 1951.
Mr. AmoryHer Majesty's Government are confident that their policy has brought greater benefits to the consumer and the economy generally than a continuation of state trading controls and rationing could ever have done. It is significant that actual increases in wages and forthcoming increases in old-age pensions have more than kept pace with increases in retail prices.
§ 10. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that since January, 1952, food prices have risen by 18.2 per cent. up to December, 1954; that in December, 1954, the price of potatoes rose, and there were also increases in the prices of tomatoes, cooking apples, most kinds of meat and fish, and butter; and if he will reimpose price control for these items of food.
Mr. AmoryThe prices of most of these foods vary seasonally, and the only reliable measure of price change is the Interim Index of Retail Prices. The answer to the last part of the Question is No.