§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, since Her Majesty's Government's announcement of a wages, prices and dividends standstill, a number of food prices have risen, and that a number of firms have announced increases; whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the information in his Department of the rise in prices since 20th July and those that are due to be increased under announcements already made; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that these prices remain at the 20th July level for the next twelve months.
§ Mr. PeartI am aware that since 20th July there have been a number of food price changes. I have looked into these carefully. Some of the changes relate to commodities whose prices inevitably go up and down in accordance with short-term fluctuations in supply and demand, and the Government have recognised that the prices of these commodities cannot be held at the levels they were at on any particular day. Other changes are due to the increase in Purchase Tax announced by my right hon. Friend on 20th July.
I do not think it would be appropriate for me to publish the detailed list to which my hon. Friend refers. As regards the last part of the Question, I would call my hon. Friend's attention to my Reply to his Question on 10th August about the arrangements I have made to ensure that the policy in Cmnd. 3073 is applied fully to food and drink prices.