§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish as full and detailed information as may be available giving the percentage rise in all food prices between 18th June, 1970, and 30th March, 1972, or the latest stated date; and similar details for the rise in the price of lamb, beef, bread, butter, eggs and milk.
§ Mr. PriorAs to the first part of the Question, the Food Index rose by 166 per cent. between 16th June, 1970, and 22nd February, 1972, the latest date for which information is available. As to the second part, the following table shows the percentage increases over the same period in the average prices collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices:
Item Percentage Increase in Average Price Lamb: home-killed Loin (with bone) 10.2 Breast 12.5 Best end of neck 7.1 Shoulder (with bone) 5.3 Leg (with bone) 8.1 Lamb: imported Loin (with bone) 9.3 Breast 19.0 Best end of neck 8.6 Shoulder (with bone) 11.4 Leg (with bone) 12.5 Beef: home-killed Chuck 22.3 Sirloin (without bone) 22.5 Silverside (without bone) 21.6 Back ribs (with bone) 24.7 Fore ribs (with bone) 23.2 Brisket (with bone) 28.6 Rump steak 20.8 Beef: imported chilled Chuck 33.0 Silverside (without bone) 27.5 Rump steak 24.2 Bread White, 1¾lb. wrapped and sliced loaf 10.0 White, l¾lb. unwrapped loaf 11.4 White, 14 oz. loaf 19.2 Brown, 14 oz. loaf 15.0 Butter New Zealand 78.6 Danish 59.0 Eggs, per dozen Large 9.0 Standard 12.8 Medium 20.1 Milk Ordinary, per pint 19.6