Mr. David Adamsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the progressive rise in the price of beetroot in London; whether he is aware that in West London the price was 3d. on 3rd May, 5d. on 19th May, 6d. on 22nd May, and 8d. on 24th May; and what are the prices to the growers?
Major Lloyd GeorgeYes, Sir. The price of beetroot is at present exceptionally high. This is mainly due to the very small supply of new crop beetroot available owing to the lateness of the season, coupled with the increased demand at this time of the year for salads. The average retail prices in the month of May did not show an increase such as that to which the hon. Member refers and I should be glad if he would furnish me with the evidence upon which his Question is based, more particularly whether348W the lowest and highest prices to which he refers were charged by the same retailer. In reply to the last part of my hon. Friend's Question, market prices in London rose during the three weeks in question from about 12s. to 20s. a half-cwt. but the net return to the grower varied according to the amount of transport and market charges deducted from these prices.