HC Deb 09 March 1953 vol 512 cc826-7
23. Mr. Willey

asked the Minister of Food the current annual rate of the food subsidies at the latest available date.

Major Lloyd George

For the year 1952–53, as stated in the recent Supplementary Estimate for my Department, £331.6 million.

Mr. Wiley

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that that is not the question I put? I asked him the current annual rate. He gave it on the wireless in a very misleading broadcast. Can he now repeat it for the benefit of the House?

Major Lloyd George

That is the cost of the subsidies this year. I cannot add to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said, that the aim was to adjust the subsidy to the rate of £250 million at the end of the financial year.

Mr. Willey

That is the question I asked—whether it is at that rate.

28 and 29. Mr. Robson Brown

asked the Minister of Food (1) the present approximate total cost of all food subsidies; and what are the various items, together with their approximate cost;

(2) what items, with approximate values, are included in the Agricultural Vote, but whose cost falls on the food subsidies.

Major Lloyd George

As indicated in my Department's Supplementary Estimate for 1952–53, food subsidies will cost in total £331.6 million this year. As the reply to the remaining parts of the Questions contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Robson Brown

I am grateful to the Minister for the figures which he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Could I ask him if he agrees that the provision of milk to school children and expectant mothers, provided for under the subsidies, has been largely contributory to the good health of the children?

Major Lloyd George

Yes.

Following is the information:

FOOD SUBSIDIES, 1952–53
The table below sets out the amount of subsidy for each subsidised foodstuff estimated for the purpose of the Supplementary Estimate for the Ministry of Food, recently published (H.C. 89).
£ million
Bacon 22.0
Bread 41.3
Flour (other than for bread) 13.3
Shell eggs 22.2
Meat (carcase) 25.6
Milk (liquid) 39.8
Butter 20.0
Cheese 2.1
Margarine (domestic) 13.0
Lard and cooking fat (domestic) 4.5
Sugar (domestic) 10.2
Miscellaneous 6.9
Welfare and Milk in Schools Schemes 46.5
Animal Feeding Stuffs 30.0
Total Subsidies Administered by Ministry of Food 297.4
SUBSIDIES ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENTS
£ million
Attested Herds Scheme … 9.7
Fertiliser Subsidy … 11.0
White Fish Subsidy … 1.8
Ploughing Grants … 6.3
Calf Subsidy … 5.4
34.2
Total Food Subsidies … … 331.6