§ Mr. Gwilym Robertsasked the Prime Minister what study he has made of the impact on prices and pay policy of the wide range of food price increases applying from January 1978 due to EEC pricing policies; if he will raise with fellow Heads of Government the matter of implementation of these price increases in the light of the Government's pay and prices policy; and if he will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterOn the first part of the Question I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, gave to the hon. Member for Conway (Mr. Roberts) on 11th November. I do not propose to raise this particular matter with other EEC Heads of Government, but I have made clear the Government's policy on the restraint of food prices so that they are held to the minimum necessary for efficient production to the benefit of consumers.