asked the Secretary of State for Trade what has been the percentage increase in food prices in the last six months; and what steps he is taking to control future increases.

Between mid-May and mid-November, the latest date for which figures are available, the retail food prices index increased by 5·8 per cent.The factors which influence retail food prices are broadly the same as those affecting retail prices generally and need to be tackled by the same means—restraining monetary growth and encouraging competition.