§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what the average family spend on food in (a) Great Britain and (b) West Germany, respectively; and if he will express this as a percentage of average income.
§ Mr. Golding:I have been asked to reply.
The information available is as follows:
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD EXPENDITURE ON FOOD— INCLUDING MEALS OUT United Kingdom (per week) £ West Germany (per month) Deutschemarks 1973 9.63 371 1977 17.74 Not available The percentage of United Kingdom average household expenditure on food in 1977 was 24.7 per cent. For West Germany, the percentage is estimated from the weights used in compiling the consumer price index, to be about 27 per cent.
Figures quoted are subject to sampling error.
Sources: Family Expenditure Surveys 1973 and 1977; Wirtschaft Und Statistik 1973 and 1975.