§ Mr. Spearingasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, pursuant to his reply to the hon. Member for Newham, South, Official Report, 30th March, column 420, he will study the 1971 estimate of the annual increase in the price of food consequent to United Kingdom entry to the EEC, and provide his estimate of the actual figures.
§ Mr. John SilkinThe right hon. Member for Sidcup (Mr. Heath) estimated that membership of the EEC would affect food prices gradually over a period of about six years, with an increase of about 2½ per cent. each year in retail food prices. Between February 1973 and February 1977 the index of retail food534W prices increased by 118 per cent., but I cannot estimate the proportion attributable to our membership of the Community.