§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Minister of Food if he will give the names of any commodities of popular consumption which are directly or indirectly assisted by State subsidy; if he will state the reasons for this policy; and if he will give the exact financial liability to the nation in respect of each article?
§ Mr. McCURDYThe only food directly assisted by subsidy is flour. At one time, owing to the potato guarantee, there was a subsidy on the potato crop, but this has ceased. The Department has consistently utilised its accumulated reserves in order to prevent violent fluctuations of prices to the consumer, and to this extent one article or another may from time to time have been indirectly subsidised. The total amount of the liability in respect of the bread subsidy for the financial year 1919–20 is estimated to be £56,500,000.
§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Minister of Food, if the present bread subsidy can be entirely discontinued after the harvesting of the 1920 crops?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am not at present able to add anything to the statement made on Friday, the 13th February, by the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he informed the House that the whole question of the bread subsidy was receiving the serious consideration of the Government.