§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Employment, whether he will publish in the Official Report a detailed statement showing how rises of 16 per cent. in milk, £5 a live cwt in beef, 18 per cent. in live sheep prices, 23 per cent. to 33 per cent. in wool, 8 per cent. in sugar beet, 43 per cent. in potatoes and 2½p a lb. on butter will raise the cost of living index figure.
§ Mr. BoothIt is estimated that the overall effect of the recently announced increases in agricultural support prices will add about one-half of 1 per cent. to the "all items" index of retail prices by the end of the year. The retail effects of increases in the support prices for individual items will in general depend on the many market factors affecting the particular commodities involved. I have, therefore, no details to add to those given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 15th March.—[Vol. 907, c. 443–4.]