§ 43. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the factual information upon which he has based his estimate that food prices will rise by 20p per week on a £7 to £8.50 per week food outlay during the transitional period of entry if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. PriorParagraph 88 of the White Paper "The United Kingdom and the European Communities" (Cmnd. 4715) says that membership will affect food prices gradually over a period of about six years, with an estimated average increase of about 2½ per cent. each year in retail prices. This rate of increase would add about 20p each year to the weekly food shopping bill of an average family of two adults and two children which at present amounts to about £7 to £8.50.
§ 46. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his Department will be represented at the forthcoming discussions with the European Economic Community over a common fisheries policy.
§ Mr. PriorI am always represented at official level in the entry negotiations with the European Economic Community.