§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on retail prices in the United Kingdom of exporting meat to member States of the EEC; what action he is taking to reduce the volume of these exports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mrs. FennerThe effect on retail prices of exports of meat to the Continent
94Wwill publish a table from information available to him from international sources, showing the rise or fall in the cost of foodstuffs in the major industrial countries, including the United States, over the past two years.
§ Mrs. FennerThe information is as follows:
cannot be assessed in isolation. Retail prices are determined by overall supplies, including both the level of imports and the level of exports. Since the United Kingdom remains a net importer of meat, any action to reduce the volume of exports would be nullified by increased diversion of imports.