Food Prices (Hansard, 28 June 1973)

§ 14. Mr. Hamling
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rise in the price of bacon since the Treaty of Accession with the EEC was signed.

§ Mrs. Fenner
The following table shows the average retail prices of selected cuts of bacon, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, on 18th January 1972, the nearest date to 22nd January 1972, when the Treaty of Accession was signed, and 22nd May 1973, the latest date for which information is available:

Average Price^*

18th January 22nd May

Bacon 1972 1973

Collar 24.6 39.5

Gammon 38.2 54.2

Middle, Smoked 34.8 49.8

Back, Smoked 38.8 55.0

Back, Unsmoked 37.1 53.5

Streaky, Smoked 23.7 40.2

^* In new pence per lb.

§ 16. Mr. Body
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rise in the price of cheese since 1st January 1973.

§ Mrs. Fenner
The Department of Employment's General Index of Retail Prices shows that on 16th January this year the average price of cheddar cheese was 31.9p per lb. and that on 22nd May, the latest date for which figures are available, the average price was 31.5p per lb.—that is, 0.4p below the average price on 16th January.

§ 20. Mr. Skinner
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in food prices since 6th November 1972.

§ 50. Mr. Meacher
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by 364W how much food prices have risen since 6th November 1972.

§ Mrs. Fenner
Between 14th November 1972 and 22nd May 1973 the food index rose by 10.9 per cent.

§ 21. Mr. Torney
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in food prices since 1st April 1973.

§ 31. Mr. Judd
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the latest increases in the price of food.

§ Mrs. Fenner
Between 17th April and 22nd May, the latest date for which information is available, the food index rose by 1.8 per cent.

§ 38. Mr. Heffer
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will formulate policies to reduce the retail price of food in Great Britain.

§ 52. Mr. John Morris
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps the Government are currently taking relating to the price of food.

§ Mr. Godber
We have already adopted various measures to limit the rise in manufactured food prices. So far as fresh food is concerned, we have always made it plain that we cannot insulate ourselves from world conditions of shortage.

§ 39. Mr. Moyle
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the rise in the price of beef since the Treaty of Accession with the EEC was signed

§ Mr. Greville Janner
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage the price of beef has increased since June 1970.
365W

§ Mr. Godber
Following is the information:

Percentage increase between 16th June 1970 and 22nd May 1973 Rise in price between 18th January 1972 and 22nd May 1973

pence per lb Percentage increase

Beef (home-killed):

Chuck … … +71.1 +16.5 +43.5

Sirloin (without bone) … … +67.2 +20.5 +37.7

Silverside (without bone) … … +59.4 +16.5 +33.1

Backribs (with bone) … … +73.5 +14.3 +41.1

Foreribs (with bone) … … +70.7 +13.7 +40.2

Brisket (with bone) … … +96.7 +13.1 +57.7

Rump Steak … … +54.7 +20.1 +29.4

Beef (imported chilled):

Chuck … … +85.2 +14.9 +43.8

Silverside (without bone) … … +74.6 +16.9 +40.1

Rump Steak … … +63.2 +20.6 +37.6

Source: General Index of Retail Prices: Department of Employment.

§ 51. Mr. William Hamilton
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in the cost of food in each of the last three months.

§ Mrs. Fenner
As compared with the previous month, the Food Index showed an increase of 1.9 per cent. at 20th March, 1.5 per cent. at 17th April, and 1.8 per cent. at 22nd May, the latest date for which information is available.

Item 18th January 1972 22nd May 1973 Increase

(pence per lb.) (pence per lb.) (pence per lb.)

Lamb: Home killed

Loin (with bone) … … 38.9 58.3 19.4

Breast^* … … 11.8 18.8 7.0

Best end of neck … … 29.1 44.9 15.8

Shoulder (with bone) … … 26.8 41.4 14.6

Leg (with bone) … … 37.5 55.5 18.0

Lamb: Imported

Loin (with bone) … … 27.9 41.6 13.7

Breast^* … … 7.3 12.0 4.7

Best end of neck … … 22.5 33.7 11.2

Shoulder (with bone) … … 20.6 30.6 10.0

Leg (with bone) … … 31.4 43.9 12.5

^* Or Scottish equivalent

	Average Price^*
	18th January	22nd May
Bacon	1972	1973
Collar	24.6	39.5
Gammon	38.2	54.2
Middle, Smoked	34.8	49.8
Back, Smoked	38.8	55.0
Back, Unsmoked	37.1	53.5
Streaky, Smoked	23.7	40.2
^* In new pence per lb.

			Percentage increase between 16th June 1970 and 22nd May 1973	Rise in price between 18th January 1972 and 22nd May 1973
				pence per lb	Percentage increase
Beef (home-killed):
Chuck	…	…	+71.1	+16.5	+43.5
Sirloin (without bone)	…	…	+67.2	+20.5	+37.7
Silverside (without bone)	…	…	+59.4	+16.5	+33.1
Backribs (with bone)	…	…	+73.5	+14.3	+41.1
Foreribs (with bone)	…	…	+70.7	+13.7	+40.2
Brisket (with bone)	…	…	+96.7	+13.1	+57.7
Rump Steak	…	…	+54.7	+20.1	+29.4
Beef (imported chilled):
Chuck	…	…	+85.2	+14.9	+43.8
Silverside (without bone)	…	…	+74.6	+16.9	+40.1
Rump Steak	…	…	+63.2	+20.6	+37.6

Item	18th January 1972	22nd May 1973	Increase
	(pence per lb.)	(pence per lb.)	(pence per lb.)
Lamb: Home killed
Loin (with bone)	…	…	38.9	58.3	19.4
Breast^*	…	…	11.8	18.8	7.0
Best end of neck	…	…	29.1	44.9	15.8
Shoulder (with bone)	…	…	26.8	41.4	14.6
Leg (with bone)	…	…	37.5	55.5	18.0
Lamb: Imported
Loin (with bone)	…	…	27.9	41.6	13.7
Breast^*	…	…	7.3	12.0	4.7
Best end of neck	…	…	22.5	33.7	11.2
Shoulder (with bone)	…	…	20.6	30.6	10.0
Leg (with bone)	…	…	31.4	43.9	12.5
^* Or Scottish equivalent