§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the estimated effect of each round of agricultural price increases under the common agricultural policy since 1 January 1973 on the retail price index and its food component as claimed by his Department at the time; and if he will include figures showing the actual increases in these indices since 1972.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithMy right hon. Friend has already provided the hon. Member with details of movements in the retail price and food price indices since 1973. —Vol. 18, c.401–2. There is no comparable series of Departmental estimates of the effects of common agricultural policy settlements on these indices. In any event, as my right hon. Friend has already explained in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Southend, East (Mr. Taylor) —Vol. 19, c. 67–68—that retail food prices are affected by many factors other than common agricultural policy support prices.