§ 22. Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will, in conjunction with the Department of Social Security, initiate a scheme whereby his Department purchases bread at wholesale prices from the large bakery organisations and distributes this at cost price to all those on social welfare benefits.
§ Mr. PriorNo; the Government believe that those receiving social welfare benefits can be helped much more satisfactorily through direct means.
§ Mr. LewisIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that it has now reached the stage at which eggs, butter, milk, meat, bacon—most of the basic necessities of life, including bread—are becoming so prohibitive in cost that with bread for instance, it is becoming as expensive as caviar and ordinary old-age pensioners cannot afford to buy it? Would he do something to see either that the price of bread is reduced or that the poor, sick and disabled can afford to buy it?
§ Mr. PriorAll I an tell the hon. Gentleman is that the real value of the pension this Christmas will be higher 1115 than it was after the last pension increase under his Government and certainly higher than at any previous Christmas.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Crouch, Mr. Money, Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop, Mr. Rankin—
§ Mr. Rankinrose—
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopQuestion No. 25, Sir.
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. It is better if hon. Members rise when they call their Questions.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The hon. Gentleman need have no anxiety. His Question will be called next.