§ 58. Mr. Hurdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is expended from the food subsidy account to cheapen consumers' prices in the case of homegrown food and imported food respectively; and what proportions these subsidies bear to the actual cost of the food in both cases.
§ Mr. GaitskellIt is estimated that of this year's food subsidies, totalling £410 million, £246 million will be in respect of home-produced food and £164 million in respect of imported food. The estimated subsidy on home-produced food will be 43.6 per cent. of the cost, and on imported food 16.5 per cent.
§ Captain CrookshankWill the right hon. Gentleman see that this information is carefully explained to the new Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food?
§ 59. Mr. Hurdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give particulars of the subsidies paid to British farmers apart from those subsidies for the direct benefit of consumers which are paid on food supplies from all sources.
§ Mr. GaitskellI will, with permission, circulate the particulars in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following are the particulars:
§ It is estimated that the subsidies paid to British farmers during the financial year 1950–51 will be as follows:—*
| Items borne on the Votes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. (Class VI. Votes 8 and 9.) | |
| £ | |
| Attested herds scheme | 2,500,000 |
| Milk recording | 76,000 |
| Grants for stallions, bulls, etc. | 52,000 |
| Grants to artificial insemination centres | 1,000 |
| Grants for the drainage of agricultural land and water supply grants | 2,151,000 |
| Wool subsidy | 250,000 |
| Ploughing-up grants | 1,000,000 |
| Marginal production assistance | 300,000 |
| Hill sheep and hill cattle subsidies | 1,305,000 |
| Hill farms improvement grants | 330,000 |
| Lime subsidy | 6,300,000 |
| Free artificial insemination services | 60,000 |
| Calf subsidy | 6,000,000 |
| Grass drying grants | 100,000 |
| 20,425,000 | |
| Items borne on the Votes of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland. (Class VI. Votes 20 and 21.) | |
| Grants for improvement of live-stock | 104,000 |
| Land drainage and water supply grants | 390,000 |
| Grass conservation grants | 8,000 |
| Ploughing-up grants | 500,000 |
| Hill sheep and hill cattle subsidies | 1,380,000 |
| Hill farm improvement grants | 150,000 |
| Bracken destruction grants | 14,000 |
| Marginal production assistance | 300,000 |
| Calf subsidy | 1,100,000 |
| Free artificial insemination services | 2,000 |
| 3,948,000 | |
| Grand Total | 24,373,000 |
| *Acreage payments are excluded since they are regarded as a consumer subsidy and are included in the food subsidy calculations. |