HC Deb 14 November 1988 vol 140 cc388-9W
Mr. Ralph Howell

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has as to the percentage of the price of food which has gone to(a) the producer and (b) the processor, wholesaler and retailer in each year since 1973.

Mr. Ryder

Broad estimates of the proportion of the value of food at retail in the United Kingdom which goes to producers and to processors, wholesalers and retailers are as follows:

Producers1 Processors2, wholesalers and retailers
1973 51.9 48.1
1974 52.6 47.4
1975 49.9 50.1
1976 52.2 47.8
1977 52.5 47.5
1978 49.2 50.8
1979 49.0 51.0
1980 43.9 56.1
1981 44.0 56.0
1982 45.8 54.2
1983 44.1 55.9
1984 46.6 53.4
1985 44.1 55.9
1986 42.0 58.0
1987 40.5 59.5
1 The producers' share is derived from estimates of agricultural products produced in the United Kingdom for home consumption valued at farmgate prices and imported food valued at shipside prices.
2 The share of processors, wholesalers and retailers is derived from estimates of household expenditure on food at retail plus the estimates of the wholesale value of food used in the catering sector. The retail price of food is valued less taxes but including subsidies.

Note:

More detailed figures are given in CSO's "Annual Abstract of Statistics", 1988 edition, table 9.16.