§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister what information she has about the average selling price of feed wheat in 1985, as to its cost in real terms in 1970, 1979 and 1984, as to the cost of a 100 horse power tractor in 1985, and as to the cost of such a tractor in real terms in 1970, 1979 and 1984.
§ The Prime MinisterThe average selling price of feed wheat in 1985 was £106.8 per tonne ex-farm. Developments in feed wheat prices in real terms, after adjusting by the retail prices index, are shown in the table for the years requested. Also shown are indices of tractor prices, adjusted by the RPI. These are compiled from manufacturers' list prices and relate to wheeled tractors of all sizes: generally the prices paid by purchasers will be lower than list price due to discounting, the extent of which has become substantial in recent years and varies between transactions. It should also be noted that price comparisons over time are particularly difficult because of continuing changes in the technical specification of tractors.
584W
Indices of prices in real terms: 1985=100 1970 1979 1984 1985 Feed wheat 138 145 111 100 All wheeled tractors 69 104 99 100