§ Mr. R. MORRISONasked the President of the Board of Trade the cost to date of the Food Council; and what reduction in the cost of foodstuffs has been effected since the Council commenced its work?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERThe cost to date of the Food Council, excluding certain miscellaneous items such as postage, rent, telephones, heating, and lighting, which are not readily available, is £2,700. It is not possible to estimate how much of the recent reduction in food prices may be attributed to be Food Council's work, but the Index Figure for Retail Food Prices has fallen from 70 per cent. above the level of July, 1914, on 1st September, 1925, to 59 per cent. over that level on 1st April, 1926, which is the lowest post-War figure.