§ Mr. Farrasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the retail price index for food has risen as a result of the Budget.
§ Dr. GilbertThe application of VAT to confectionery, soft drinks, ice cream and potato crisps added 1.0 per cent. to the food index. However, this was more than offset by the subsidies on butter, bread, milk and cheese, which have reduced the food index by 4.3 per cent.