§ 28. Mr. Barnesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the initial impact of decimalisation on food prices based on his Department's survey of retail prices.
§ 51. Mr. Juddasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reports he has received of excessive price increases following decimalisation; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. PriorThe information available to me indicates that there were few retail price changes over the immediate decimalisation period and that those which occurred were mainly reflecting changes in manufacturers' prices, wholesale market prices, or the incidence of special promotions. Prices generally have been converted in accordance with the official tables and the ½p pricing points are being widely used.
§ 29. Mr. Barnesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will 377W request the central policy review staff to undertake an analysis of alternative methods of stabilising food prices.
§ 39. Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agricuture, Fisheries and Food what increase in food prices occurred between July and December in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. PriorThe increases in the Food Index between mid-July and mid-December were:
Per cent. July—December, 1966 0.7 July—December, 1967 1.4 July—December, 1968 1.3 July—December, 1969 1.1 July—December, 1970 1.4
§ Mr. Eadieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of an increase of ld. per gallon in petrol prices on retail food prices.
§ Mr. PriorThe direct effect would be negligible but any increase would also affect the cost of a great many goods and services used by the food industry.