§ 86. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, between October, 1951, and April, 1959, the price of meat has risen from 2s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. per pound, tea from 3s. 8d. to 6s. 8d. per pound, and that generally food prices have risen by 42.1 per cent, between October, 1951, and October, 1958; what new action he intends to take to restore food prices to their 1951 level; and when he anticipates achieving this objective.
§ Mr. John HareIn 1951, subsidies. price control and a restriction of demand through rationing were artificially depressing the prices of most foodstuffs. Meat prices, however, have increased much less than the hon. Member suggests. We have achieved a 12 per cent. increase in consumption of food per head since 1951, and over the past year price stability as well: my latest information shows that food prices, on average, are about the same as a year ago.