§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection to what extent price increases recorded in the week ended 11th March 1978 in the Grocer of 138 foods including blancmange, cereals, jellies, preserves, pies, sauces and sausages, bringing the total of such increases since 1st January 1978 to 2,871, have increased or will increase the cost of living.
§ Mr. MaclennanI have nothing further to add to the reply I gave to my hon.
203WFriend on 8th March 1978.—[Vol. 945, c. 691.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the fact that in the week ending 11th March 1978, the price of bacon back rashers rose by 2p a lb., cut-through rashers by 1p a lb., and collar and hock bacon joints by 2p to 3p a lb., to what extent he estimates such increases will increase the cost of living.
§ Mr. MaclennanWholesale prices for imported bacon rose by £30 per ton from 6th March 1978, and domestic bacon prices rose by the same amount a week later. It is difficult to assess precisely the impact of these increases on retail prices for individual cuts of bacon. An increase of 1p per lb. on the average price for all cuts of bacon would raise the RPI by about one-hundredth of 1 per cent.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection, in view of the fact that back rashers have risen in price by 2p a lb., cut-through rashers by 1p a lb. and collar and hock bacon joints by 2p to 3p a lb., whether he will refer these price increases to the Price Commission for investigation.
1. EXPORTS OF COMPLETE SLIDE FASTENERS £'000 f.o.b 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 808 1,112 1,148 1,494 1,529 2,659 4,130 4,542
II. EXPORTS OF COMPLETE SLIDE FASTENERS £'000 f.o.b 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1,227 1,238 1,312 2,047 2,461 1,680 2,235 2,613 204W
III. IMPORTS OF COMPLETE SLIDE FASTENERS £'000 c.i.f 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 Grand Total 636 1,080 1,597 1,813 2,396 2,360 4,071 5,943 of which, consigned from: Japan 190 466 1,073 1,229 1,889 2,017 3,290 4,798 Federal Republic of Germany 11 5 26 10 30 29 186 318 Hong Kong 303 472 319 304 232 129 185 273 Switzerland 52 42 56 110 77 86 142 190 Austria 0 0 1 0 6 0 4 58 Irish Republic 4 7 3 11 13 25 43 53 Sweden 4 2 6 15 1 0 31 43 Belgium-Luxembourg 1 1 5 8 0 1 30 37 Italy 0 0 3 13 11 3 9 36 Singapore 15 45 18 59 68 19 17 35 Taiwan 1 0 0 0 0 1 10 25 France 3 1 2 1 8 1 15 21 United States of America 27 14 15 26 26 24 43 16 Denmark 6 18 3 1 2 14 22 13 Finland 0 0 4 0 4 1 34 11 Canada 5 4 44 0 0 0 7 0 Other countries 14 3 19 26 29 10 3 16
§ Mr. MaclennanMy right hon. Friend has at present no plans to direct the Price Commission to make a further examination of bacon. The Price Commission's report on prices, costs and margins in the importation and distribution of bacon was published on 21st February, and interested parties are currently being consulted about the report's findings.