§ 32. Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the increase in the price of food on the basis that the cost of agricultural support is passed to the consumer.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesIt is not possible to give a precise estimate because many variable factors are involved; but to raise market prices to the levels of the current guarantees to the agricultural industry would result in an increase of some 4–7 per cent. in the cost of food. If the cost of production grants were also transferred to the consumer, food prices would, of course, rise further.