§ 22. Mr. Martenasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further discussions he has had with the EEC about subsidising the sales of butter in Great Britain.
§ Mr. GodberI would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made on 7th May by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, when he announced the Government's decision to introduce the two subsidies on butter sales which are allowed by EEC regulations.—[Vol. 856. c. 56–68.]
§ Mr. MartenArising out of that reply and with reference to the l0p a 1b. per month obtainable on a voucher, what arrangements are the Government making to police voucher issues so that they are not traded in for cash or otherwise flogged to see that there is no cheating over this subsidy?
§ Mr. GodberMy hon. Friend has raised an important point which, among other matters, is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services who will be responsible for administering the scheme. I shall draw my hon. Friend's comments to his attention.
§ Mr. DeakinsWhy are the Govern-prepared to subsidise butter for old-age pensioners at a cost to the British taxpayer of £9 million, but not prepared to subsidise milk for school children from 7 to 11 who surely need it just as much?
§ Mr. GodberI have tried to explain to the hon. Gentleman before why we agreed to these two subsidies on butter. The one to which he refers is not a £9 million cost but a £3 million cost for social butter. It is the general butter subsidy which costs £18 million, of which £9 million is borne by the Exchequer. The whole cost of social butter is being borne by the Communities on a totally different basis, and although we have repeatedly said that we do not think this is the way in which one should normally make arrangements for those in need on social security benefits, nevertheless, if a thing is offered by the Community and the Community is paying the full cost, it would be wrong for us not to receive it.