§ Miss Richardsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the effect on the weekly food bill of (a) a two-child family on average earnings and (b) a two-child family on below average earnings of (i) the devaluations in the green pound since May 1979 and (ii) the recent introduction of a 2.1 per cent. monetary compensatory amount.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithIt is estimated that the green pound devaluations since May 1979, on present consumption patterns and when their effects have worked through to the retail stage, will increase the food bill of a two-child family on average earnings by nearly 70p per week and that of a two-child family on below average earnings—taken as half the average—by about 60p per week. The recent introduction of a 2.1 per cent. positive MCA, which was removed after two weeks, would have had no calculable effect on the weekly food bill, since the effect of MCAs is to stabilise food prices.