§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there have been reductions in the wholesale price of home-produced and imported bacon; and whether, without controlling prices, he will have discussions with the wholesalers and retailers to see to what extent they will 109W ensure that these price reductions are passed on to the consumers.
§ Mr. PriorI am aware of recent bacon price movements. It is not my policy to intervene in the pricing decisions of individual firms. There is evidence that the decline in wholesale prices of bacon is being reflected at the retail level.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in view of the fact that here has been a drop in the supply of hatching of eggs, together with an increase in price, what plans he has to arrange for an adequate supply of eggs; to what extent eggs are now being imported; and whether imports are to increase between now and the autumn.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartEgg Production at present appears to be slightly lower than the very high level reached at this time last year, but there is no sign of any shortage. Imports form only a small part of total supplies—at present about 2 per cent.—and it is not possible to forecast them.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that his Meat and Livestock Commission's third report gives warnings of a decline in sheep production; and what action he proposes to take to arrest this decline and thus prevent a further rise in the price of lamb to the consumer.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartI am fully aware of the decline in sheep production. The state of the sheep industry is being examined at the Annual Review.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the Government's Meat and Livestock Commission's Annual Report: to what extent he estimates the report's announced increases in the price of beef and lamb will affect the cost of living; and by how much per retail pound of fresh meat he estimates these prices will rise.
§ Mr. PriorCopies of the Meat and Livestock Commission's third annual report were laid before Parliament on 16th February. The report describes the work of the Commission during the year ended 30th September, 1970. When the report was published the Chairman of the110W Commission commented on the Government's proposals for levies on some imported meat. So far as the effect of these proposals on retail prices is concerened, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Birmingham, Ladywood (Mrs. Doris Fisher) on 8th December, 1970.—[Vol.808, c. 60–1]
§ Mr. Laurance Reedasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in his monitoring of prices following decimalisation, whether he has studied increases in the price of chips in fish and chip shops, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Bolton, East.