67. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the price of food rose by more than 11 per cent. in the 18 months ended May, 1969, in the light of the most recent figures of the Retail Price Index.
§ Mr. HoyAbout a third of this increase was caused by seasonal price variations; the remainder is accounted for mainly by higher prices of imported food, increases in taxation and higher labour costs.