§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish as full and detailed information as may be available 72W giving the percentage rise in all food prices between 18th June, 1970, and 18th June, 1971, and similar details for the rise in the price of lamb, beef, bread, butter, eggs and milk.
§ Mr. PriorAs to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro). As to the second part, the following table shows the percentage increases between 16th June, 1970, and 18th May, 1971, in the average prices collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices.
Item Percentage Increase in Average Price Lamb: Home Killed Loin (with bone) 9.1 Breast 15.2 Best end of neck 8.6 Shoulder (with bone) 8.7 Leg (with bone) 7.6 Lamb: Imported Loin (with bone) 8.9 Breast 15.9 Best end of neck 8.6 Shoulder (with bone) 9.2 Leg (with bone) 7.5 Beef: Home Killed Chuck 15.7 Sirloin (without bone) 16.1 Silverside (without bone) 16.3 Back ribs (with bone) 18.0 Fore ribs (with bone) 17.1 Brisket (with bone) 22.5 Rump steak 15.9 Beef: Imported Chilled Chuck 20.8 Silverside (without bone) 19.2 Rump steak 14.1 Bread White, 1¾lb. wrapped and sliced loaf 5.6 White, 1¾lb. unwrapped loaf 5.7 White, 14 oz. loaf 7.7 Brown, 14 oz. loaf 6.7 Butter New Zealand 36.3 Danish 30.0 Eggs, per dozen Large 17.6 Standard 22.3 Medium 29.6 Milk Ordinary, per pint 8.7
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent, between 18th June, 1970, and 18th June, 1971, there have been impositions or increases made in the import duties or taxes on food in general and lamb in particular; what increases will be imposed during the next month; 73W and to what extent he estimates these taxes for import levies have been responsible for increasing the price of food to the consumer.
§ Mr. PriorBetween 18th June, 1970, and 18th June, 1971, no action was taken regarding lamb but orders were made from time to time varying the rates of levies on imports of cereals and eggs in order to maintain the prescribed minimum import prices.
As to the coming month, information about the interim levy schemes covering cereals, beef and veal, mutton and lamb and minor milk products, which are to come into operation at the beginning of July, was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 17th March.
These measures have had no significant effect on food prices to date.—[Vol. 813, c. 1438–40.]