HL Deb 04 April 1979 vol 399 c1977WA
Lord O'HAGAN

asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much food prices have increased since British accession to the EEC; and how far this increase is due to British membership of the European Economic Community.

Lord STRABOLGI

The food component of the retail price index increased by 162.9 per cent. between mid-January 1973 and mid-February 1979. As I made clear to the noble Lord on 19th March it is not possible to say precisely what part of this increase is attributable to our membership of the EEC. On certain assumptions, however, it is estimated that retail food prices are about 10 per cent. higher than they would have been if we were outside the Community.