HC Deb 05 December 1955 vol 547 cc3-4W
Mr. Russell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proportion of our total food supplies produced at home in 1913, 1935, and in each year since 1945.

Mr. Amory

There are two main methods of calculating the proportion of food produced at home, neither of which is completely satisfactory. In the first calories are used as a common denominator and in the second the relative values of different commodities in a base period. Estimates on both bases are shown below for a pre-war period (1934–38) and for each of the years 1948–54. No estimate is available for the years 1913, 1935 and 1945–47.

Per cent.
— Calorie basis Constant value basis*
Pre-war average … 31 36
1948 … 37 49
1949 … 39 51
1950 … 41 49
1951 … 40 50
1952 … 41 52
1953 … 40 51
1954 … 42 50
* Years ended June.

NOTE:—The constant value method overcomes certain difficulties, particularly the measurement of animal feeding stuffs imported as such or derived from other imported foodstuffs. The calorie method cannot allow for foods such as tea which have no calorie value. Different methods of calculation are bound to give different results and changes in the proportions from one period to another are more significant than the absolute proportions.

Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total of consumers' expenditure on food in 1951 and 1954.

Mr. Amory

The estimate of personal expenditure on food in 1954, as given in the Blue Book on National Income and Expenditure, was £3,810 million compared with £2,987 million in 1951.

Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much expressed in pounds sterling, of the increase in consumers' expenditure on food in 1954 as compared to 1951, was represented by increase in consumption; and how much by increased prices.

Mr. Amory

Of the estimated increase of about £820 million in personal expenditure on food betwen 1951 and 1954, it is estimated that about £180 million represents the increase in volume of food and about £640 million represents the increase in price.