HC Deb 15 November 1973 vol 864 cc205-7W
19. Mr. Thomas Cox

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in food prices since June 1970.

Mr. Dalyell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest cost-of-living index for food prices compared with June 1970.

Mrs. Fenner

Between 16th June 1970 and 18th September 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the food index rose by 40.2 per cent.

20. Mr. William Price

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage food prices have risen in the last four-week period for which figures are available.

Mrs. Fenner

Between 21st August and 18th September the food index rose by 2.1 per cent.

21. Mr. David Clark

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in food prices in the last 12 months.

Mrs. Fenner

Between 19th September 1972 and 18th September 1973, the latest date for which information is available, the food index rose by 15.1 per cent.

22. Mr. Ashton

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state as percentages the increase in the price of beef since June 1970 and the percentage increase in family expenditure on food in general.

Mrs. Fenner

The following table shows the percentage increase in average retail prices of representative cuts of beef, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, between 16th June 1970 and 18th September 1973, the latest date for which information is available.

Beef (home-killed) Percentage Increase in Average Price
Chuck +73.3
Sirloin (without bone) +74.1
Silverside (with bone)* +64.4
Backribs (with bone)* +76.7
Foreribs (with bone) +74.3
Brisket (with bone) +97.8
Rump Steak* +62.8
Beef (imported chilled)
Chuck +90.5
Silverside (without bone)* +79.3
Rump steak* +69.7
*or Scottish equivalent

On the basis of information collected for the National Food Survey, the average weekly expenditure per head increased by 27 per cent. between the second quarter of 1970 and the second quarter of 1973.

23. Mr. Bruce-Gardyne

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he deferred increases in bread prices approved by the Price Commission; and if he will make a statement.

Mrs. Fenner

A price increase, which will generally add 1p to the price of a loaf from the beginning of next week, has been announced today.

24. Mrs. Joyce Butler

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now seek powers to make mandatory the display of the daily agreed maximum price per pound of meat on sale in retail shops.

Mrs. Fenner

We are at present considering ways in which meat pricing in retail shops might be made more effective.

Mr. Moate

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the likely effect on the retail cost of food of the changes in tariffs and levies on imported foodstuffs due to take place on 1st January 1974.

Mrs. Fenner

These tariff changes have already been taken into account in the estimate that the overall effect of EEC entry on retail food prices will be 2 per cent. a year over the transitional period. This first step towards adopting the common customs tariff involves reductions as well as increases and our tariff against other member States continues to decline. Duties on imports from a number of countries remain unchanged. The tariff rates on imports of some foods from certain Mediterranean countries have not yet been fixed. There will be no change in the variable levy arrangements on 1st January 1974.