HC Deb 25 March 1952 vol 498 cc206-8
50. Mr. Fernyhough

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total cost of food subsidies in each of the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1951, respectively.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I cannot give the figures for calendar years. Starting with the financial year 1947–48, the total cost of the food subsidies has been, £391.6 million in 1947–48; £484.5 million in 1948–49; £424.8 million in 1949–50, and £400.3 million in 1950–51. The limit for 1951–52 is £410 million.

Mr. Fernyhough

Will not the right hon. Gentleman agree that when he used the figure of £568 million in his Budget speech he deliberately misled the House?

Mr. Butler

No. If the hon. Gentleman will look carefully at what was said, he will see that Sir Stafford Cripps mentioned that figure as being the figure to which the food subsidies would have risen had not remedial action been taken.

Mr. Fernyhough

Would not the right hon. Gentleman agree that food subsidies have never reached the figure of £568 million and that, therefore, they could not have been reduced from that figure to some other figure?

Mr. Butler

I am not aware that anyone—and I include myself—has ever suggested they did.

Mr. Fernyhough

Will the right hon. Gentleman read again his Budget speech in the OFFICIAL REPORT for 11th March, column 1299?

Hon. Members

What did he say?

Mr. Fernyhough

The right hon. Gentleman said—

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is a question to the right hon. Gentleman whether he will read a certain section of the OFFICIAL REPORT. It is not necessary for the hon. Member to read it. Anyway, it is half-past three.

Mr. Fernyhough

On a point of order. Surely, if a Minister challenges a statement I make, and the figures are given in HANSARD, I am entitled to ask him to read them again?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member covered that point by giving the number of the column in the OFFICIAL REPORT to which he wished to draw attention. I understand the Secretary of State for War wishes to answer a Question.

Mr. Silverman

On a point of order. Surely my hon. Friend has accused a Minister of misleading—and I think he said "deliberately" misleading—the House? It is surely in order for him to draw the attention of that Minister, if he repudiates the charge, to the exact words in which he did mislead the House?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member has done that.