§ Mr. W. Hamiltonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the reasons for the increase of almost 4s. in the £ in the prices of sugar, preserves and confectionery from January, 1962, to April, 1964; and if he will give the comparable increase, expressed in similar terms, between January, 1952, and January, 1962.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThere were two main reasons for this increase: first, the change in the world price of sugar which, because of poor crops in Cuba and in Europe, was £65 10s. per ton in April, 1964, compared with £21 10s. per ton in January, 1962, with peaks of over £100 per ton meanwhile; and second, the introduction of 15 per cent. purchase tax on chocolate and sugar confectionery.
The comparable increase between January, 1952, and January, 1962, was about 5s. 6d. in the £.