HC Deb 15 April 1947 vol 436 c39

Less pleasing to me are some of the other Supplementary Estimates which we have had to vote—£39 million for the Control Office, in addition to the original estimate of £80 million, to feed and administer the Germans in our zone. Our military costs are, of course, extra to these. And £19 million more than we bargained for in Greece. I would emphasise that, unhappily for us, food prices have gone on rising all over the world, and we have, therefore, had to vote a supplementary sum of £50 million for purchases by the Ministry of Food. We are glad to have the food, but are sorry that it costs so much. Consolidated Fund services at £578 million, were £10 million above the estimate. Thus, if I may sum up in a sentence, with the expenditure £23 million more, and the revenue £180 million more than the estimate, the deficit, at £569 million, was £157 million less than I had foretold.