§ 40. Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had with representatives of the NFU over the recent EEC price determinations and his own awards for commodities for which there is no EEC régime; and with what results.
§ Mr. PeartI and my officials kept in close and continuing contact with representatives of the Farmers' Unions throughout the course of the 1976 Annual Review and 1976–77 common agricultural policy price negotiations. I announced on 8th March the results of the review and the CAP negotiations. The council of the NFU has stated that the changes 235W in support prices should provide a firmer prospect for recovery of both farm output and income in the year ahead.
§ 44. Mr. Corbettasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will specify the estimated effects of rises in farm prices for each product as a result of the 1976 EEC and United Kingdom farm price reviews on the consumer prices of related food products by (a) pence per 1 lb./pint and (b) as a percentage of the total cost of average household food expenditure.
§ Mr. PeartPrecise figures are not available. For sugar, bread, pork, lamb, fruit and vegetables, the settlement is unlikely to result in any early increase in retail prices. The main effects are likely to be on butter and cheese, for each of which the settlement may lead to an increase of about 2½p per pound over the year. For liquid milk it is not expected that it will be necessary to increase the retail price before the end of the year. For beef the premiums are being continued so that prices will be lower, when supplies are plentiful, than under a system of intervention only. The overall effect of the settlement may be to add about 1¼ per cent. on average to food prices by the end of the year.