§ The Committee will have noticed that the cost of some of the concessions I have mentioned depends on recommendations to be made to the Government and negotiations to be undertaken, and I cannot, therefore, give an absolutely firm figure for the total cost at this stage. I estimate, however, that the net total cost to the Budget and the Insurance Fund in a full year would be about £80 million. The cost, of course, would rise in future years with the rising cost of old age pensions.
§ Neither the saving on the food subsidies of £160 million nor the cost of the concessions of £80 million a year will be fully felt in 1952–53. I have already outlined the programme of reductions of the food subsidies. Having regard to the time for the necessary legislation and 1302 other Parliamentary action which is required for most of the other side of the proposals—though we shall proceed both on this and on the preparatory administration with all speed—I put the combined effect of both sets of proposals in 1952–53 at the same figure as for the full year, namely, as giving me on balance a sum available of £80 million.