§ Lieut.-Colonel Hamiltonasked the Minister of Food if he will give the comparative average prices, for the 12-month 257W period following VJ-Day, at wholesale rates for home-produced supplies and c.i.f. at British ports for imported supplies, of the following foodstuffs of comparable type and quality: wheat, sugar, beef, mutton, bacon, butter and eggs in shell.
§ Mr. StracheyI regret that it is not possible to provide comparative prices for the commodities mentioned. Imported supplies of these commodities are not really comparable in type and quality with home produced supplies. Furthermore, the wholesale rates for home produced supplies of the commodities named cannot be compared with c.i.f. prices at British ports for imported supplies since the true cost of home produced supplies is in most cases obscured by direct agricultural subsidies.