HC Deb 08 December 1970 vol 808 cc59-62W
19. Mr. Bagier

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what criteria he proposes to estimate the effect of competition on prices.

Mr. Prior

It is not possible to isolate the effect of any one factor on food prices; but I am confident that where there is competition there will be no unnecessary or unjustified price increases.

37. Mr. Evelyn King

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices increased between October, 1964, and June, 1970.

Mr. Prior

About 31 per cent.

38 and 39. Mr. Bob Brown

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (l) what representations he has received from women's organisations on the level of food prices since 18th June; and what replies he has sent;

(2) what representations he has received from retirement pensioners organisations on the level of food prices since 18th June; and what replies he has sent.

Mr. Prior

I have received a number of representations from different sources, but as I told the hon. Member on 20th November, neither the content of most representations, nor the form in which they are recorded, makes the information for which the hon. Member has asked readily available and it could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.—[Vol. 807, c.41.]

52. Mr. Clinton Davis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rise in the price of foodstuffs occurred during the months of October and November, 1970, respectively.

Mr. Prior

Between 22nd September and 20th October, the latest date for which information is available, the Index of Retail Food Prices rose by 0.8 points.

54. Mr. Gwynoro Jones

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what procedure is being carried out by his Department to identify increases in food and other commodity prices.

Mr. Prior

Information is obtained from various sources. The official figures in the Retail Food Price Index are derived from information collected by the Department of Employment.

57. Mr. Rankin

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of movements in the price of fruit and of vegetables by the end of December.

Mr. Prior

It is not the practice to forecast future price levels.

59. Mrs. Doris Fisher

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of the Government's policy to impose import levies on meat on retail shop prices.

Mr. Prior

The principal effect of our present proposals for levies on imported meat is to put a floor under the market and thereby to give it a firmer tone. Retail meat prices will continue to be determined mainly by market forces.

62. Mr. David Clark

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the fall in the Food Price Index between June and September in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Mr. Prior

5.1, 1.5, 2.0 and 1.0 points.

Sir G. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement on the continuing rise in retail food prices, having regard to Christmas demand and trade.

Mr. Prior

The Food Index has been relatively stable for some months because of seasonal factors but we must expect it to start rising shortly since inflationary wage settlements are bound to increase food as well as other prices.

Mr. Sillars

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will circulate to trade unions, employers' associations and consumers' associations a list of grocery food items which have increased in price from 1st July to 30th November.

Mr. Prior

No.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce the necessary legislation to enable him to keep a register of food prices and the rise and falls since the first registered date of 18th June, 1970, such register to be collated from details supplied to him by consumers who shall be supplied by his Department with a pre-paid printed postcard on the basis of the sample forwarded to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North.

Mr. Prior

No.

Mr. Arthur Lewis

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on his Department's report, which shows that since June, 1970 major food prices have risen and that 48 out of 76 items of a sample list taken at 500 and 1,000 shops show increases; and whether he will make this report available in the Library.

Mr. Prior

I assume the hon. Member has in mind the Press notice my Department issues each month giving the average retail prices for certain foodstuffs. These prices are collected by the Department of Employment and are included in the calculation of the Food Index which showed a slight fall, from 141.6 to 141.4, between June and October. This information is already available in the Library.