Mr James Hoy: I could not promise that; it would be the very thing which I said that we could not do, and no government have ever agreed to do it. When the hon. Gentleman himself was in my office, information was supplied to the Ministry which he would not publish because it was given in confidence.
Mr James Hoy: I was saying that we would not disclose certain figures about particular companies.—[Interruption.] The right hon. Gentleman is a little talkative. If he would wait a minute, I might give him some more information. I have to reply to the points made in the debate. The hon. Member for Torrington asked me whether the pig supply would be adequate. We obviously hope so. Pig prices were...
Mr James Hoy: I referred to it at the beginning of my reply. I outlined what we had done and pointed out that the second part, namely, the structure of the industry is still being considered by the I.R.C. and by the industry itself.
Mr James Hoy: I beg to move, That the Agricultural Investment (Variation of Rate of Grant) Order 1970, a copy of which was laid before this House on 18th March, be approved. The purpose of this Order is quite simple. It gives effect to the increased rates of agricultural investment grant and investment supplement which were announced by my right hon. Friend in the Annual Review Determination last...
Mr James Hoy: The hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) selected only one area of the country, and the situation there might not apply generally. He knows as well as anybody in the House that the Government gave agriculture the same credit priority within the banks' lending ceilings as was given to the export industries. We did so because we thought that this would be of considerable help to...
Mr James Hoy: We are continuing our existing arrangements for price surveillance, which are designed to ensure that increases are consistent with the Government's prices policy.
Mr James Hoy: The figures produced by the Grocer are open to debate. They distort the picture considerably. Between 1964–69 food prices rose by 21·5 per cent., all prices rose by 23·2 per cent. and earnings rose by 38 per cent.
Mr James Hoy: I would like to check that figure. If the right hon. Gentleman and his hon. Friends had their way, prices would be pushed up even further.
Mr James Hoy: I would not like to answer for the Opposition in that respect, but I do know that food prices would rise substantially.
Mr James Hoy: I regret that information about prices of individual foodstuffs is not available prior to November, 1967, except in respect of the October of each year. Figures showing the increases between October, 1959, and October, 1964, and between October, 1964, and October, 1969, respectively, were given in the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 12th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 407–10.]
Mr James Hoy: Let me say clearly that we have had great co-operation from the food manufacturers.
Mr James Hoy: Yes, indeed. The hon. Member might think that they should be a little more rebellious and should put up their prices so that people would come and complain to us about them. We have had their co-operation. My Department's comprehensive system of price surveillance covers all significant food and drink prices and over 90 per cent. of consumer expenditure in that sector.
Mr James Hoy: The hon. Member has obviously just arrived. [HON. MEMBERS: "Cheap."] May I repeat— [Interruption.]
Mr James Hoy: I thought that the hon. Member might not have been present when I answered the original Question—I do not know whether he was—but if he was here, I am sorry for saying that he was not. Between 1964 and 1969 food prices rose by 21·5 per cent. and all prices by 23.2 per cent., so that food prices showed less of a rise, whilst earnings rose during the same period by almost 38 per cent.
Mr James Hoy: None, Sir.
Mr James Hoy: Yes, indeed. We lend our support to sugar producers in the Commonwealth and developing countries as the best way of allowing them to earn their own livings. We would hope that the E.E.C. will find it possible to join the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.
Mr James Hoy: I think that nearly everyone will agree that the policy which has been followed by the Government has been the best for the sugar industry as a whole and for the developing countries. That is why I said that I hoped that the E.E.C. would find it possible to join the Agreement.
Mr James Hoy: Indeed. My right hon. Friend who was then Foreign Secretary in July, 1967, made it clear when he said that for the period up to 1974 our commitment under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement was a contract which we must fulfil. He also said that we would wish to discuss with the Six how the interests of the developing country members of the Agreement could be safeguarded in the longer-term.
Mr James Hoy: The Fisheries Departments already keep a close watch on fish and shellfish landed, and there is no evidence to suggest that contamination or damage occurs on any scale.
Mr James Hoy: We do our best to trace them. They cause considerable trouble and I should like to help the hon. Gentleman. We should like to find out who is responsible.
