§ 47. Major Beamishasked the Minister of Food to publish in the Official Report a table showing the quantities and prices of all food available each week on one ration book on 1st October, 1951; and the prices of the same quantities of these foods on the latest convenient date.
Dr. HillThe following is the information:
TABLE OF QUANTITIES AND COST OF ALL FOOD AVAILABLE EACH WEEK ON ONE ADULT RATION BOOK AT 1ST OCTOBER, 1951, AND THE COST OF THE SAME QUANTITIES OF THESE FOODS AT 1ST FEBRUARY, 1954. Commodity Ration 1st October, 1951 Cost 1st February, 1954 Cost s. d. s. d. Meat (carcase) — 2 0 2 4.80 Bacon 3oz. 5.81 8.34 Butter 3 oz. 5.63 7.50 Margarine 4oz. 3.50 4.50 Cooking fat and lard 2oz. 2.00 2.50 Cheese 1½ oz. 1.31 2.44 Sugar 10 oz 3.75 5.00 Tea 2 oz. 5.50 7.56 4 3.50 5 6.64
Commander Maitlandasked the Minister of Food the increase in price at the latest convenient date in food of comparable quantity and quality to that obtainable as one personal weekly ration in October, 1951; how much of this increase was due to the fact that food subsidies were running above the permitted level in October, 1951; and how much was due to the partial removal of food subsidies since that date.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThe weekly cost of food obtainable on one adult ration book in October, 1951, had, at 1st February, 1954, risen by about 1s. 3d. Of this amount, about 3d. was needed to keep total food subsidies within the 1951–52 ceiling of £410 million fixed by the late Administration; and about 10d. arose from reduction of the level of subsidies, including the necessary elimination of the tea and sugar subsidies prior to derationing.