§ Mr. Baldockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average prices received by producers in Western Germany and by British farmers for those products for which figures are available and for the latest convenient period.
Mr. AmoryAny attempt to compare prices to producers in different countries is vitiated by a number of factors which cannot be precisely measured, for example, national differences in production costs, in methods of subsidy payments, in exchange rates, and in definitions of quality.
Subject to these reservations on comparability, the following table shows such average annual prices received in 1955 by producers in Western Germany for which information is available, and by producers in England and Wales for the same items. These have been converted to the common basis of United States cents per kilogram or litre as used by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, though the difficulties of direct comparison mentioned above remain.
Further details can be obtained from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation's Monthly Bulletins of Agricultural Economics and Statistics, or in the F.A.O. Year Book, the latest publication of which relates to the crop year 1954–55.
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1955 AVERAGE PRICES, CONVERTED TO U.S. CENTS, RECEIVED BY PRODUCERS IN WESTERN GERMANY AND ENGLAND AND WALES FOR CERTAIN FOODSTUFFS Source for Western Germany: F.A.O. Monthly Bulletin of Agricultural Economics and Statistics Commodity Western Germany England and Wales Unit Price U.S. cents Unit Price U.S. cents Wheat Kilogram 10.1* Standard price to producers, average for calendar year. Kilogram 8.5 All grades. Weighted average of monthly prices plus deficiency payments. Barley " 10.2* Brewing " 7.3 All grades. 8.7* Fodder Average returns to growers for calendar year, deficiency payments included. Averages January to November. Oats " 7.9* Fodder " 6.9 All grades. Standard price to producers, calendar year average. Average returns to growers, calendar year average, deficiency payments included. Potatoes " 3.0* Main crop eating, average price to producers, calendar year. " 4.2 Majestic and King Edward VII varieties, simple average price to growers, selected markets. Beef Cattle " 49.1 Steers, fat, 24 markets. Live weight. " 43.4 Returns based upon weighted average of monthly prices for grade A and B lightweight steers and heifers at selected auction markets, and payments under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme. Pigs " 55.9 Pigs well fleshed 100–119.5 k.g., 24 markets. Live weight. " 79.1 Returns based upon weighted average monthly prices for fat pigs 10 score and over live weight, at selected auction markets, and payments under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme, dead weight. Milk Litre 6.6* Whole milk, average price to producers, calendar year. Litre 10.0 Provisional average. Whole milk, weighted average pool price paid to producers, including quality premia, level delivery bonuses and Exchequer payments. Eggs Kilogram 78.6 Domestic, Class B, 55–60 grams, price at collection station, Bavaria. Kilogram 87.2 Simple average of monthly prices at packing stations, including Exchequer payments. * Simple averages calculated from F.A.O. monthly prices. Other Western Germany figures as published by F.A.O.