§ Captain BAGLEYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the statement made by the Secretary to the Board of Trade that there was no control other than the coal control the expenses of which were borne by the industry; if he will state the expense that has fallen upon the taxpayer arising from the control of wheat, wool, hops, and livestock; whether he has had any representations submitted to him in favour of the immediate de-control of poultry; and, if so, what steps he pro poses to take in the matter?
§ Mr. McCURDYI have seen the statement referred to. No expense falls upon the taxpayer as a result of the control of livestock. The cost of the bread subsidy to the taxpayer for the current financial year is estimated at £56,500,000. For the coming financial year it would, but for the advance in the wholesale price of flour which takes effect to-day, amount to £90,000,000. The present estimated saving being half of that sum, the subsidy for 1920–21 will amount to approximately £45,000,000. The control of wool has been carried on by the Ministry of Munitions (Supply) and that of hops by the Ministry of Agriculture. Questions with regard to these commodities should, therefore, be addressed to those Departments. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative. It is hoped to announce shortly the date on which homebred poultry will be de-controlled. It is the intention of the Ministry of Food to maintain, for the present, the control if imported frozen poultry.