§ Mr. Rankinasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take immediate steps to ensure that the shop prices of all the ingredients of Christmas puddings are frozen.
§ Mr. John MackieOur Ministry's price surveillance under the "early warning"280W or "constant watch" arrangements covers almost all the ingredients of Christmas puddings. We have however always recognised that it is not possible to freeze the price of foodstuffs we buy from abroad, or whose supply fluctuates markedly.
We have impressed on the representatives of the wholesale and retail grocery trade the need to do all in their power to keep prices steady this Christmas.