§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish a table showing the percentage increases in the retail prices of butter, beef, cheese, milk, bread and sugar since 1973; and if he will publish a separate table showing the percentage increases in margarine, fruit juices, fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, vegetable and salad oils, tea, coffee and cocoa, respectively; and if he will publish a third table showing the percentage increase in the retail food index over the same period.
§ Mr. MacGregorThe percentage increases between May 1973 and May 1983 shown by the relevant items in the retail price index were as follows:
48W
per cent. Butter 328.2 Beef 225.3 Cheese 284.8 Milk (liquid) 278.4 Bread 288.7 Sugar 365.9 Margarine 169.2 Fresh fruit 201.3
per cent. Fresh vegetables 185.0 Tea 260.0 Coffee, cocoa and proprietary food drinks 260.9 All food items in the RPI 242.6 No information is readily available for fruit juices, for vegetable and salad oils, or for coffee and cocoa separately.