§ 31. Mr. F. Willeyasked the Minister of Food what are the current unit subsidies on bacon, flour and cheese.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe unit subsidies for 1951–52 are estimated as follows: Bacon, 1s. 1d. per lb.; flour, 1s. 2¾d. per 7 lb.; cheese, 11d. per lb.
§ Mr. WilleyAs the figures given are average figures for the year, could the right hon. and gallant Gentleman give the current figures, in other words the rate at which the subsidies are running at the moment?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeNo, that is an extremely difficult thing to do, as the hon. Member knows. An attempt was made at one time to give figures for the quarterly periods but that proved extremely difficult, and therefore we have to give yearly figures.
§ Dr. StrossIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that of the three foods listed here, the most important is cheese? Whatever else happens, will he see that we get an abundant amount as cheaply as possible?
§ Mr. ChetwyndCan the right hon. and gallant Gentleman say whether there will be any food subsidies left on these three items when the new proposals come into effect?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAll the future figures depend upon procurement prices. Cheese happens to be easy to estimate because the price of procurement does not alter very much, but where one gets variation in price and demand it is extremely difficult. On many of these things, of course, there will be a proportion left.