asked the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Energy the price increases in pence of the following items granted by the National Prices Commission since mid-May 1977—a large loaf of wrapped bread, a packet of cornflakes, 20 standard cigarettes, a bottle of beer, a lb. of cheese, a lb. of coffee, a large packet of frozen fish fingers, a lb. of beef, a large tin of beans, a stone of potatoes, a kilo of suger, a lb. of tea and a lb. of butter.
Written Answers. - Commodity Price Increases.
297.
The following are details of overall price increases since May 1977 on the Commodities in question, following recommendations from the National Prices Commission, to which I raised no objection: Bread, 7p per 800 gm loaf, wrapped and sliced; Cornflakes, 7p per 500 gm packet; Cigarettes, 3p per packet of 20; Beer, 6p per pint bottle; Cheese, 7.45p per lb. (wholesale); Beans, 6p per 29½ oz. tin; Sugar, 7.5p per kilo; Tea, 1.75p per lb. on average; Butter, 8p per lb.
All the above are retail price increases with the exception of cheese, in which case price increases are approved at wholesale level.
Coffee and frozen fish fingers are both imported items and I cannot exercise any control over the import price of these commodities. Importers with a turnover of more than £250,000 per annum are required to make application for increases in the cash margins which they take on imported products. However, no such applications have been received from importers of these two commodities in the period from mid-May 1977 to date. The retail prices of coffee and frozen fish fingers are not controlled. On account, however, of a reduction in import prices, the retail prices of the popular brands of coffee in supermarkets were reduced by 55p per 4 oz. jar since May 1977.
Beef and potatoes are both primary agricultural products and as such producer prices are specifically excluded from the scope of the Prices Acts. The retail prices of beef and potatoes are not controlled. However, I am aware from the monitoring of these prices which is carried out by the National Prices Commission, that since May 1977 average prices of beef increased by about 25p per lb. and average prices of potatoes increased by about 30p per stone.