§ 18. Mr. Meacherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by how much the retail price index for fresh foods has risen since 6th November 1972.
§ Mrs. FennerThere is no retail price index for fresh foods as such. However, the following table shows the percentage increase in the main sub-groups of the food index between 13th November 1972 and 15th December 1972, the latest date for which information is available.
per cent. Increase in the Index of Retail Food Prices between 13th November and 15th December 1972 1.5 of which: (a) items the prices of which show significant seasonal variations 3.5 (b) others 1.0 of which: (i) items mainly home-produced for direct consumption 3.1 (ii) items mainly imported for direct consumption 0.9 (iii) items manufactured in the United Kingdom 0.1 NOTES:
(a) The items the prices of which show significant seasonal variations include home-killed lamb, fresh and smoked fish, eggs, fresh vegetables and fresh fruit.
(b) (i) The items mainly home-produced for direct consumption include home-killed beef, pork, ox liver, chicken and fresh milk.
(b) (ii) The items mainly imported for direct consumption include imported beef and lamb, calves liver, bacon, ham, canned meat and fish, butter, lard, cheese, tea, dried fruit and canned fruit (other than fruit salad).
§ 21. Mr. James Lamondasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and 381W Food which foodstuffs had the highest percentage increase in price during the period June 1970 to date; and what is that percentage increase.
§ Mr. GodberOn the basis of the average prices collected for the purposes of the Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices, the highest percentage food price increase between 16th June 1970 and 12th December 1972, the latest date for which information is available, was for Cheddar-type cheese, the rise in which amounted to 74.9 per cent.
§ 23. Mr. Duffyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many breaches of the prices standstill have occurred; how many companies have had their prices reduced as a result of discussion with him; and what are the names of the products and companies involved.
§ Mrs. FennerThere have been 646 instances in which prices of food and drink have been reduced following an investigation by my Department's Prices Unit. These all concerned prices charged in restaurants, bars and retail shops. In every case the overcharging was found to
(p/lb.) Item 19th January 1971 18th January 1972 12th December 1972 Beef: Home killed: Chuck … … … 33.4 37.9 47.4 Sirloin (without bone) … … … 46.7 54.4 67.0 Silverside (without bone) … … … 43.6 49.8 59.5 Back ribs (with bone) … … … 29.9 34.8 43.2 Fore ribs (with bone) … … … 29.2 34.1 42.2 Brisket (with bone) … … … 19.5 22.7 30.3 Rump Steak … … … 59.6 68.4 82.7 Beef: Imported, chilled: Chuck … … … 29.0 34.0 41.2 Silverside (without bone) … … … 37.1 42.1 48.2 Rump Steak … … … 46.5 54.8 60.3 Source: Index of Retail Food Prices
§ 38. Mr. Goldingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the increase in the price of bacon and eggs in the last two months.
§ Mrs. FennerThere has been no change in first-hand prices of bacon produced in the United Kingdom, but those of imported bacon have risen by amounts ranging from £65 to £93 a ton and these increases have been partly reflected in the prices of bacon in the shops. Egg prices have increased by about 1p to
382Wbe due to a genuine misunderstanding, sometimes on the part of the company, but more often on the part of an employee. For this reason we see no justification for announcing the names of the companies concerned.
There are, of course, many other cases where, as a result of advice given to a company or a shopkeeper, price increases have been prevented.
§ 35. Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of rising food prices, he will ask the Intervention Board to suspend its operations in the United Kingdom forthwith.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartNo.
§ 36. Sir Robin Turtonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the retail price of beef in the United Kingdom on 1st January 1971, 1972 and 1973.
§ Mrs. FennerThe following table shows the average retail price of various beef cuts in the United Kingdom on 19th January 1971, 18th January 1972 and 12th December 1972, the latest date for which information is available:
2p per dozen at both first-hand and retail levels.
§ 41. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increases ocurred during 1972 in the price of fish-meal, soya, offal, maize, barley and wheat; and what effect he expects these price increases will have upon the cost of eggs in 1973.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe following table gives the information on ingredient 383W prices. It is not possible to predict the effect of production cost increases on
£/ton Week Ending 12th January 1972 Week Ending 3rd January 1973 Increase *Fish meal: White fish (HP) … … … 89.33 150.00 60.67 Herring (Danish) … … … 96.00 195.00 99.00 *Soya Meal (HP) … … … 52.00 110.75 58.75 *Offal (Weatings) … … … 27.83 44.25 16.42 *Maize (USA) … … … 28.44 41.69 13.25 †Barley (HG feed) … … … 21.40 36.31 14.91 †Wheat (HG compounding) … … … 22.02 39.25 17.23 *Paid by distributing dealers export store/mill at Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London. †Ex farm basis. HP = home produced. HG = home grown. Prices shown are for 5-ton lots and exclude discounts.
§ 43. Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has agreed for the second successive month to an increase in the price per pound of frozen chicken; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerPoultry meat prices are not subject to the standstill. We are however keeping in touch with the trade and are satisfied that the price increases made recently by retailers are in line with the higher prices they have had to pay to obtain supplies.
§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the net producer price for milk in December 1970, 1971 and 1972.
§ Mr. Anthony StodartThe weighted average of the prices, including premiums. paid to wholesale producers in England and Wales was as follows:
p per gallon December 1970 20.38 December 1971 21.96 December 1972 (partly estimated) 22.04 It is misleading to compare monthly figures. The only fair comparison is between the average prices paid over the year as a whole. Here the figures are:
Year ended 31st March p per gallon 1970–71 … … 17.8 1971–72 … … 19.6 1972–73 (forecast) … … 20.3
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications for increases in foodstuffs prices he has agreed to since the commencement of the freeze.
384Wthe price of eggs, as prices are determined by supply and demand.
§ Mrs. FennerMy right hon. Friend has given consent for price increases involving four foods or groups of products sold generally to consumers: seven intermediate products which do not affect retail prices directly; and 13 specialised products of minor significance to food consumption in general.