HC Deb 11 May 1989 vol 152 cc498-9W
Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the price in pence per pound of sugar, butter, and beef and the price per ton of wheat in the United Kingdom; what are the comparable figures for these items in the world market for food; and if he has comparable information for five and 10 years ago.

Mr. Ryder

Information on first hand/wholesale prices in the United Kingdom is shown in the table. There is no single, representative measure of "world" prices for these commodities. Price quotations available vary according 1:o differences in quality, presentation and point of shipment/destination.

First hand/wholesale prices in the United Kingdom, in nominal and real1 terms
1979 (annual average) 1984 (annual average) 1989 (late April/early May)
Sugar2(refined, bulk granulated) price per pound
Nominal 13.0 18.9 22.3
Real terms 26.0 24.0 22.3
Butter (English, London) price per pound
Nominal 75.9 101.1 119.3
Real terms 150.0 127.0 119.3
Beef (Scottish sides, London) price per pound
Nominal 61.7 80.8 105.0
Real terms 122.0 102.0 105.0
Wheat (ex farm, bread making) £/tonne
Nominal 3107.0 3145.0 126.0
Real terms 220.0 183.0 126.0
1 Adjusted to 1989 prices using the Retail Price Index (all items).
2 List price: in practice many sales will be subject to discounts.
3 May.

Mr. Teddy Taylor

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information is made generally available on the price of foodstuffs(a) within the EEC and (b) on the free world market; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Ryder

For the European Community, Eurostat disseminates a range of information, including prices received by producers for certain agricultural commodities, volume and value of imports and exports and consumer price indices for food. Some price data are also available in the specialised trade press and the publications of trade organisations. Price quotations for some products available for "world" trade are published in the specialist press and elsewhere: but these relate generally to particular qualities and presentation at specified locations and are not necessarily comparable with home-produced supplies available on the domestic market: they exclude products traded under special agreements. A significant reduction in agricultural support levels worldwide—a major aim of the Uruguay GATT round—would cause many "world" prices to rise.