HC Deb 05 December 1922 vol 159 c1503
56. Mr. WISE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the German Republic is giving any subsidies on bread, potatoes, coal, etc., at the present time?

Mr. BALDWIN

The German Government controls the purchase of wheat for breadstuffs, but it has announced that as from August last the price of breadstuffs is to be fixed so as to cover the cost of purchase. The provision of 954 millions of marks in the Budget for the present year is only for the loss on sale of bread-stuffs up to August. I am not aware of any subsidy on potatoes or coal. On the contrary, in the case of coal there is a tax of 40 per cent, ad valorem.