Food Prices (Hansard, 22 February 1973)

§ Mr. William Price
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average length of time taken in replying to complaints about price rises.

§ Mr. Godber
Some complaints are dealt with at once on the telephone; others involve correspondence with retailing and manufacturing companies which may take several days or weeks. To attempt to calculate an average would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds.

§ Mr. Thomas Cox
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the price reductions that have taken place during the last six months on the following items; meat, bacon, butter, cheese, sugar, tea, milk, bread, and eggs.

§ Mrs. Fenner
On the basis of information collected for the purposes of the index of retail food prices, there were the following reductions in average retail prices between 18th July 1972 and 16th January 1973, the latest date for which information is available:

New Zealand butter—3.3p per lb.

Danish butter—3.4p per lb.

Granulated sugar—0.2p per 2 lb. bag.

§ Mr. Arthur Lewis
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT 154W a detailed list of price increases that have taken place since the introduction of the Government's wages and prices freeze, as known in his Department and where his permission has been sought and granted for such increases, and the amounts in each case.

§ Mr. Godber
Since 6th November 1 have given consent to the following price increases:

MAJOR PRODUCT GROUPS SOLD GENERALLY TO CONSUMERS

Meat products Tongue and ham, 6p per lb.

Brisket of beef, 5p per lb.

Canned beef and mutton, 3p per lb.

Beefburgers, sausages, meat pies, etc., 2p per lb.

Quick frozen fish products Breaded fish, 2–5p per lb.

Fish fingers, 1–2p per lb.

Honey 3½–4p per lb.

Ground coffee 4–5p per lb.

INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS NOT SOLD GENERALLY DIRECT TO CONSUMERS

Animal feedingstuffs Consent given to three price increases totalling up to about£11 a ton on compounds and£25 a ton on concentrates.

Fishmeal £18 per ton.

Maize starch and glucose Up to£6 per tonne.

Biscuit flour £1 per sack.

Oatmeal £13 per ton.

Pot and pearl barley 50p per cwt.

Newly distilled grain spirit and raw malt whisky 4p per proof gallon.

Almond products ½–5p per lb.

Skimmed milk powder £35 per ton.

Malt extract £20 per ton.

In addition I have given consent to price increases for a number of specialised commodities made by individual manufacturers.

MAJOR PRODUCT GROUPS SOLD GENERALLY TO CONSUMERS
Meat products	Tongue and ham, 6p per lb.
	Brisket of beef, 5p per lb.
	Canned beef and mutton, 3p per lb.
	Beefburgers, sausages, meat pies, etc., 2p per lb.
Quick frozen fish products	Breaded fish, 2–5p per lb.
	Fish fingers, 1–2p per lb.
Honey	3½–4p per lb.
Ground coffee	4–5p per lb.

INTERMEDIATE PRODUCTS NOT SOLD GENERALLY DIRECT TO CONSUMERS
Animal feedingstuffs	Consent given to three price increases totalling up to about£11 a ton on compounds and£25 a ton on concentrates.
Fishmeal	£18 per ton.
Maize starch and glucose	Up to£6 per tonne.
Biscuit flour	£1 per sack.
Oatmeal	£13 per ton.
Pot and pearl barley	50p per cwt.
Newly distilled grain spirit and raw malt whisky	4p per proof gallon.
Almond products	½–5p per lb.
Skimmed milk powder	£35 per ton.
Malt extract	£20 per ton.