§ 58. Mr. Evelyn Kingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average cost of feeding a single person in 1969; and what was the increase over the previous year.
§ Mr. PriorThe average cost of feeding one person in 1969 in the United Kingdom was £124 compared with £118 in 1968, an increase of £6.
§ 61. Mr. William Priceasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a further statement on the current level of food prices.
§ Mr. PriorThe Food Index stood at 144.1 on 15th December, the latest date for which figures are available.
§ 63. Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many price rises in foodstuffs of all kinds have taken place between 18th June and 31st December; and how many have been recorded from 1st January, 1971, to 6th February, 1971.
§ 70. Mr. Molloyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he intends to take to prevent or correct any unjustified rounding up of food prices by either wholesalers or retailers before and following Decimalisation Day;
§ Mr. Greville Jannerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of errors already caused by dual pricing on price tags of food products, he will appoint a special team of inspectors to advise shopkeepers of food pricing problems caused by Decimalisation.
§ 77. Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for what foods he expects considerable increases in prices during the next few months.
§ Mr. PriorI assume the hon. Member has in mind what I said on 19th January. I was referring to likely movements in the Food Index rather than individual foodstuffs.—[Vol. 809, c. 694–6.]
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§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he estimates the Government's policy of reducing subsidies on food by £100 million per annum will increase food prices to the housewives and increase the cost of living.
§ Mr. PriorIf the hon. Member has in mind the Government's intention to introduce levy arrangements, I would refer him to the reply I gave him on 7th December.—[Vol. 808, c.39–40.]
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent he estimates a rise in food prices due to his new system of import controls, and deficiency payments for cereals; and to what extent his granting of an all-round price increase of 15 per cent. in the price review will raise prices of food and the cost of living.
§ Mr. PriorI would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 7th December. As regards the second part of the question, I cannot anticipate the Annual Review.—[Vol 808, c.39–40.]