§ Mr. Leadbitterasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many price increases on groceries were reported to his Department in each of the years following 1970.
§ Mrs. FennerThere is no standing procedure for price increases on groceries to be reported to my Department. The limited arrangements for major manufacturers to give prior notification of impending increases lapsed in November 1972, with the start of the counter-inflation programme. The present controls of the price code are administered by the Price Commission.
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price of white potatoes at the beginning of the year, in May, in October and at the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. FennerThe average retail price for white skinned varieties of maincrop potatoes sold loose in the United Kingdom were as follows :
Average Price per lb. price rage per lb. From To P P P 16th January 1973. 2.2 2 2½ 22nd May 1973 2.7 2 3 16th October 1973. 2.3 2 3 The mid-October figures are the latest available, but the figures for November are not expected to be greatly different.
37W
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price of marrowfat peas at the beginning of the year, in May, in October and at the most recent date for which figures are available.
§ Mrs. FennerThe following are London market quotations of average prices paid ex-farm for home-grown marrowfat peas in 1973 :
£ Per ton(net weight excluding sacks) January 75.00 May 82.50 3 weeks ending 24th October 130.00 Week ending 31st October 155.00 Week ending 21st November 190.00
§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the price of fresh cod per stone at the beginning of the year, in May, in October and at the most recent date for which details are available.
§ Mrs. FennerI assume the hon. Member has in mind first-hand prices at the ports, for which national averages are available for only the first half of 1973. However, on the Humber, where the heaviest supplies of cod are landed, averages were :
Week ending Average price in £ per stone (head-on weight, before filleting) on first sale of cod for human consumption 6th January 1973 1.57 5th May 1973 1.63 6th October 1973 1.80 10th November 1973 1.77 Official statistics are not collected of wholesalers' selling prices after filleting.