§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in relation to each food price increase between 16th June 1970 and 16th October 1973, as listed in the OFFICIAL REPORT, 23rd November, Written Answers, c. 527–30, he will estimate the extent to which the increase was due to changes in world prices.
§ Mrs. FennerIt is not possible to isolate the effect of changes in world commodity prices from the many other factors which influence the movements of individual retail prices. While, however, retail food prices rose by 45 per cent. between224W June 1970 and October 1973, the average price of our food imports rose by 71 per cent. (to September 1973).