Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the average increases in the retail price of bacon, sausage and other meat-based food products sold in the United Kingdom year on year over the past five years.
§ Mr. CurryThe annual percentage increases over the last five years in retail prices, as measured by the retail prices index, are given:
Year (change on previous year) Bacon Other meat products (including sausages) 1988 +3.3 -0.6 1989 +9.3 +6.0 1990 +12.2 +11.3 1991 +1.4 + 3.9 1992 +6.8 +0.5
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of bacon, sausage and other meat-based food products(a) exported from and (b) imported into the United Kingdom year on year for the past five years.
§ Mr. CurryThe figures for trade in all meat preparations—which includes bacon and sausage—during the last five years are as follows:14W
Exports Imports Weight (MT.) Value (£m) Weight (MT.) Value (£m) 1988 16,817 33.121 488,924 791.763 1989 18,006 37.868 492,847 936.193 1990 18,449 42.357 481,505 981.358 1991 23,398 54.737 488,013 989.969 1992 27,176 66.792 495,577 1,026.292 Source: Central Statistical Office MA 20 and MM20.
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many companies are involved with the manufacture of bacon, sausage and other meat-based foods in the United Kingdom in total; and how many of those are based in(a) other EC countries and (b) non-EC countries.
§ Mr. CurryInformation is not available on the number of companies engaged in these activities or on their distribution according to the domicile of the controlling interest. However, at the end of 1992 there was 637 establishments in the United Kingdom classified as having a principal activity of bacon curing or the manufacture of meat products—heading 4122 of the standard industrial classification, revised 1980.
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of meat foods was manufactured in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.
§ Mr. CurryComprehensive information on the volume of meat foods manufactured in the United Kingdom is not available. However, the value of sales of meat products by all establishments engaged in their manufacture is available and is shown below:
£ million Year Volume 1988 2,464 1989 2,545 1990 2,723 1991 2,832 1992 3,040
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the change in the level of consumption of manufactured meat foods in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.
§ Mr. CurryInformation on the level of household consumption of manufactured meat foods—which includes bacon and ham, sausages, pies, canned or cooked meats and other meat products—is available from the national food survey.
15W
Year Household consumption in ounces per person per week 1988 15.97 1989 15.86 1990 15.03 1991 15.03 1992 15.41
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people were employed in meat foods manufacturing in each year since 1988.
§ Mr. CurryInformation is not available for each of the years requested. Figures from the three most recent censuses of employment are shown:
Year to September Great Britain ('000) 1987 50.9 1989 48.7 1991 52.1
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of manufactured meat foods was sold in the retail market in the United Kingdom in each year since 1988.
§ Mr. CurryInformation is not available in the precise form requested. Consumers' household expenditure on manufactured meat foods—which includes bacon and ham, sausages, pies, canned or cooked meats and other meat products—at constant 1985 prices for the years in question is shown:
£ million 1988 3,555 1989 3,730 1990 3,593 1991 3,509 1992 3,651
Mr. William O'BrienTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what provisions are in place to ensure fair competition in manufacturing and retailing of meat-based foods; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Neil HamiltonI have been asked to reply.
The Government's policy is to promote competition throughout the economy. If the hon. Member has evidence of anti-competitive practices in the manufacturing and retailing of meat-based products, he should write to the Director General of Fair Trading who has responsibility, under the Fair Trading Act 1973 and the Competition Act 1980, for investigating allegations of anti-competitive practices.