§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the value of food imports as a percentage of all imports and expenditure on food as a percentage of total consumer expenditure, for each year since 1964.
§ Mr. StrangThe information is as follows:
Imports of food as a percentage of total imports* Consumers' expenditure on food (including catering as a percentage of total consumers' expenditure† 1964 28.2 26.3 1965 26.0 25.6 1966 25.3 25.3 1967 24.0 24.8 1968 20.6 23.9 1969 20.1 23.8 1970 19.6 23.5 1971 19.2 23.1 1972 18.1 21.7 1973 16.2 21.8 * Source: Overseas Trade Statistics 1964–1973—(Section O excluding Division O8). † Source: National Income and Expenditure 1963–1973.