§ 70. Mr. Rostasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection by what percentage food prices have increased since February 1974.
§ Mr. MaclennanI refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Leek (Mr. Knox) on 17th April.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, bearing in mind that during the 1970s consumption of butter fell by 22 per cent., bread by 14 per cent., eggs by 14 per cent. and lamb by 24 per cent., to what extent he estimates that such reductions in consumption were due to price rises; what these price rises were; and what action he has taken or intends taking to increase the consumption of these items by reducing prices.
§ Mr. MaclennanTrends in household consumption and in the average prices paid for these foods, as given by the National Food Survey, are set out in the table below. Price is only one of a number of factors to affect household consumption of these items; other factors will include the movements in prices of alternative foods and changes in taste. For a more detailed account I refer my hon. Friend to the annual reports of the National Food Survey Committee.
The Government's anti-inflation policies aim to reduce the rate of increase of all prices, not just the prices of these items. Moreover, in respect of those foods subject to the CAP, our policy is to reduce the real price of commodities in surplus.
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HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION AND AVERAGE PRICES PAID 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Butter— Consumption ozs. per person per week … … 5.90 5.44 4.79 5.24 5.61 5.63 5.16 4.70 Average price paid (1970=100) … … … 100 135.4 146.6 120.8 126.1 160.7 221.9 278.8 Bread— Consumption ozs. per person per week … … 37.51 35.20 34.44 33.42 33.50 33.67 33.17 32.72 Average price paid (1970=100) … … … 100 108.4 116.9 125.8 161.0 182.7 202.1 243.0 Eggs— Consumption ozs. per person per week … … 4.59 4.48 4.41 4.23 4.09 4.14 4.08 4.00 Average price paid (1970=100) … … … 100 110.2 97.3 144.3 171.4 171.8 194.0 220.9 Mutton and Lamb— Consumption ozs. per person per week … … 5.17 5.32 4.96 4.44 4.11 4.25 4.20 3.97 Average price paid (1970=100) … … … 100 109.7 126.0 162.8 185.7 201.0 237.8 280.2 Source MAFF: National Food Survey.