§ Mr. Silvesterasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will describe how the reduction in the rise of the retail price index of 1½ per cent. and of the retail food index of 4 per cent., mentioned in her parliamentary answer of 8th July, was calculated.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe reductions in the rise of the retail price index and the retail food index have resulted primarily from the introduction of food subsidies and have been calculated as follows:
Percentage Savings Food Index RPI Milk 2.59 0.65 Bread 0.84 0.21 Butter 0.48 0.12 Cheese 0.36 0.09 Total 4.27 1.07 The rest of the saving on the RPI derives from other measures, particularly the 10 per cent. cut of distributors' gross percentage margins.