§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that during 1971 the average price of food rose by 11 per cent. and that the price of basic foodstuffs rose by amounts varying between 22 per cent. to 50 per cent., and that this resulted in the fall-off in take-up of 38 items of food; and to what extent this has affected those on social welfare benefits in general and those on retirement pensions in particular.