§ 59. Captain R. TERRELLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can give the cost of the Food Controller's Department and the extra expenditure necessitated by the. resumption of rationing this winter?
The MINISTER of FOOD (Mr. Roberts)I have been asked to reply. The estimated cost of the administration of the Ministry of Food for the financial year ending 31st March, 1920, is £2,490,000. This amount includes a sum of £720,000 involved by the continued existence of Food Control Committees owing to the necessity for the rationing of certain foodstuffs this winter. Some form of organised distribution of sugar and butter must, I am afraid, be maintained so long as the world shortage of these commodities continues. I do not anticipate any part of this expenditure will have to be borne by the taxpayer. Hitherto the cost of the administration of the Ministry of Food has been covered by the margins obtained as the result of its trading transactions.