§ Mr. J. E. B. Hillasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion of the rise in retail prices of food generally, and of any specified foods, which over the last 20 years has been taken up by the costs of more elaborate processing, packaging and presentation.
§ Mr. HoyA recently published unofficial estimate indicates that in the last few years the costs of processing, packaging and presentation incurred in the United Kingdom represented about 20 per cent. of the total retail value of all food, including imports. I regret that no estimates are available of the change in this element over the last 20 years, or of changes in its composition as between volume and price changes, or for individual foods.
§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases have been brought to his notice under the Prices and Incomes Act of foodstuffs which are identical being packed under different labels and marketed at different prices; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyWe are aware that some "branded" and private label foods are similar in quality but are sold at different prices. This is a well known trade practice and we do not consider that it requires any action under the Prices and Incomes policy. We are however keeping the position under review.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food to what extent food prices have risen since devaluation; whether he will give a full and detailed list of actual price rises of stated articles since devaluation; and what action he has taken or intends taking to ensure that these increases were justified and with what results.
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§ Mr. HoyThe Food Index increased by 14 per cent. between November, 1967, arid January, 1970. The information about individual commodities is shown below. It should be noted that all these figures are distorted by seasonal factors.
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AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF ITEMS OF FOOD (PER LB. UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED) Item 14th November 1967 Average Price 20th January, 1970 Difference d. d. d. Beef: home-killed Chuck … … … … … … 60.0 74.8 +14.8 Sirloin (without bone) … … … … 82.0 102.7 +20.7 Silverside (without bone)* … … … 77.2 95.0 +17.8 Back ribs (with bone)* … … … 53.6 65.4 +11.8 Fore ribs (with bone) … … … … 51.7 64.4 +12.7 Brisket (with bone) … … … … 33.4 40.7 +7.3 Rump steak* … … … … … 104.4 129.8 +25.4 Beef: Imported, chilled Chuck … … … … … … 52.9 64.1 +11.2 Silverside (without bone)* … … … 65.3 79.4 +14.1 Rump steak* … … … … … 93.3 104.7 +11.4 Lamb: home, killed Loin (with bone) … … … … 63.1 78.2 +15.1 Breast* … … … … … … 17.7 23.3 +5.6 Best end of neck … … … … 47.5 59.2 +11.7 Shoulder (with bone) … … … … 43.5 54.8 +11.3 Leg (with bone) … … … … 61.3 75.4 +14.1 Lamb: imported Loin (with bone) … … … … 48.7 61.1 +12.4 Breast* … … … … … … 10.8 15.0 +4.2 Best end of neck … … … … 39.3 49.5 +10.2 Shoulder (with bone) … … … … 36.0 43.5 7.5 Leg (with bone) … … … … 54.3 66.0 +11.7 Pork: home-killed Leg (foot off) … … … … … 59.5 67.1 +7.6 Belly* … … … … … … 36.4 42.2 +5.8 Loin (with bone) … … … … 68.7 78.3 +9.6 Other meat Pork sausages … … … … … 39.1 42.8 +3.7 Beef sausages … … … … … 31.4 35.4 +4.0 Roasting chicken (broiler), frozen (3 lb.) … 37.9 37.6 -0.3 Roasting chicken, fresh or chilled … … 42.1 45.1 +3.0 Ham, cooked … … … … … 113.2 125.7 +12.5 Pork luncheon meat, 12 oz. tin … … 31.3 31.4 +0.1 Fresh fish Cod fillets … … … … … 42.5 48.8 +6.3 Haddock fillets … … … … … 48.7 58.6 +9.9 Haddock, smoked whole … … … 44.7 52.5 +7.8 Plaice fillets … … … … … — 78.7 — Halibut cuts … … … … … 83.9 106.4 +22.5 Herrings … … … … … … 22.0 25.8 +3.8 Kippers, with bone … … … … 31.4 34.6 +3.2 Canned (red) salmon, ½ size … … … 49.5 63.8 +14.3 Bread White, 1¾ lb. wrapped and sliced loaf … 17.6 20.8 +3.2 White, 1¾ lb. unwrapped loaf … … … 16.9 20.2 +3.3 White, 14 oz. loaf … … … … 10.4 12.2 +1.8 Brown, 14 oz. loaf … … … … 12.1 14.3 +2.2 Flour Self raising, 3 lb. … … … … 22.2 23.1 +0.9 As to the second part of the Question, the arrangements for price surveillance have been in operation throughout the period and are designed to ensure that increases are consistent with the Government's prices policy.
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Item 14th November 1967 Average Price 20th January, 1970 Difference Fresh vegetables Potatoes, old (white, loose) … … … … … 3.8 5.1 +1.3 (red, loose) … … … … … 4.4 5.8 +1.4 Tomatoes … … … … … 27.0 30.0 +3.0 Cabbage, greens … … … … 7.1 9.0 +1.9 Cabbage, hearted … … … … 6.2 7.1 +0.9 Cauliflower or broccoli … … … 17.3 20.2 +2.9 Sprouts … … … … … … 10.3 12.2 +1.9 Carrots … … … … … … 6.2 6.9 +0.7 Onions … … … … … … 7.7 14.9 +7.2 Mushrooms (per ½ lb.) … … … — 14.7 — Fresh Fruit Apples, cooking … … … … 16.5 14.5 -2.0 Apples, dessert … … … … … 22.3 18.7 -3.6 Pears, dessert … … … … … 20.1 17.6 -2.5 Oranges … … … … … … 15.2 15.9 +0.7 Bananas … … … … … … 16.6 16.7 +0.1 Bacon Collar* … … … … … … 47.3 54.4 +7.1 Gammon* … … … … … 71.5 78.4 +6.9 Middle cut*, smoked … … … … 64.2 72.7 +8.5 Back, smoked … … … … … 68.4 79.3 +10.9 Back, unsmoked … … … … 65.7 76.4 +10.7 Streaky, smoked … … … … 42.8 50.9 +8.1 Milk, ordinary, per pint … … … … 10.0 11.0 +1.0 Butter New Zealand … … … … … 40.2 40.2 No change Danish … … … … … … 47.6 47.9 +0.3 Margarine Standard quality (without added butter) (per ½ lb.) … … … … … … 10.9 11.8 +0.9 Lower priced, per ½ lb. … … … 8.3 9.6 +1.3 Lard … … … … … … 16.3 19.1 +2.8 Cheese, cheddar type … … … … 42.6 42.6 No change Eggs Large, per doz. … … … … … 55.5 56.8 +1.3 Standard, per doz. … … … … 47.5 51.1 +3.6 Medium, per doz. … … … … 41.7 45.7 +4.0 Sugar, granulated, 2 lb. … … … … 16.8 17.8 +1.0 Coffee, extract 4 oz. … … … … — 59.2 — Tea Higher priced … … … per ¼ lb. 23.7 23.9 +0.2 Medium priced … … … 18.8 18.6 -0.2 Lower priced … … … 17.3 17.4 +0.1 * Or Scottish equivalent. Note: The figures are averages of those collected by the Department of Employment and Productivity for the purposes of the Index of Retail Prices in 200 areas of the United Kingdom.