§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many price increases have taken place for chopped pork, beef, tongue, ham, bacon and lamb, respectively, since November 1972; and what was the lowest price and highest price of each in the period following.
§ Mrs. FennerThe prices of beef, lamb and imported bacon are not subject to control. Since November 1972 they have varied week by week according to demand and supply.
In the same period my right hon. Friend has given two consents to increases in the prices of chopped pork, tongue and canned ham. Details of these consents were given in the reply to the Hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. David Clark) on 15th March. My right hon. Friend has also agreed to the firsthand price of United Kingdom bacon being increased by £25 a ton on two occasions since November.
The retail price of all the products mentioned can vary widely according to quality, cut and degree of market competition. It would therefore be quite meaningless to attempt to indicate any general range of prices during the period.