§ Mr. Dempseyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT prices of basic food stuffs in 1951, in 1964 and at the latest convenient date.
§ Mr. Hoy:Using data collected for the National Food Survey for the third quarter of each of the three years mentioned by my hon. Friend, the average retail prices of the main foodstuffs were as follows:
July/Sept., 1951 July/Sept., 1964 July/Sept., 1968 s. d. s. d. s. d. Milk (pasteurised), per pint 5½ 9 10½ Butter, per lb. 2 6 3 8 3 4½ Natural cheese, per lb. 1 2½ 3 6 3 9 Sugar, per lb. 6 10 8½ Beef and veal, per lb. 2 3 5 0½ 6 3 Mutton and lamb, per lb. 2 2½ 3 11½ 4 4½ Pork, per lb. 2 5½ 4 5 5 1 Bacon (uncooked), per lb. 2 10 4 4½ 4 11½ Poultry, per lb. 4 1 3 10½ 3 5 Eggs (hen), per dozen 3 11 3 6 4 0 Fish (white, fresh), per lb. 1 11 3 7 4 1½ Fresh green vegetables, lb. 6½ 9 10 Fresh fruit, per lb. 11 1 3 1 5½ Potatoes, per lb. 2½ 3½ 4 Bread (1¾ lb. white loaf) 6½ 1 3 1 7 Flour, per lb. 4½ 8 8 Tea, per lb. 3 11 6 2½ 6 2 Notes:
1. The figures are the averages of all the different grades or products etc. weighted according to the quantity of each grade purchased.
2. In 1951, many foodstuffs were rationed and their prices controlled and/or subsidized.
3. The prices quoted for fresh green vegetables and fresh fruit have been obtained as follows:
fresh green vegetables —weighted average of prices for cabbage, cauliflower, peas and beans.
fresh fruit —weighted average of prices for apples, pears, bananas, oranges and other citrus fruit.