§ Colonel Carverasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what is the present loss to the taxpayer per head of cattle and sheep, respectively, killed under control?
§ Mr. MabaneThe policy of the Government is to pay farmers a fair price for their produce having regard to present costs of production. On the other hand, the prices at which foodstuffs are sold by my Department are restricted by the de-1320W cision to stabilise the cost of living. Consequently a subsidy is paid by my Department in the case of several home-grown agricultural products, including livestock. This subsidy, representing the difference between buying price, together with the costs from the point of purchase at the collecting centre to the time of delivery at the retail shops, and the selling price is estimated to be equivalent for the year 1943–44 to £7 8s. 3d. per head for cattle and to 18s. 6d. for sheep.