Foodstuffs (Subsidies)

HC Deb 23 March 1945 vol 409 c1154W

Sir E. Graham-Little

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, what are the current rates of subsidy in respect of the principal foodstuffs.

Mr. Peake

Since my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the figure of £218,000,000 on 16th January in reply to a question by the hon. Member for Chislehurst (Sir W. Smithers) the estimate of the current cost of the food subsidies, which is revised monthly, has risen to £225,000,000 per annum owing to increases in the cost of sugar, tea, milk, cereals and eggs.. The 225,000,000 can be apportioned as follows:

		£ million
Bread, Flour and Oatmeal	…	65
Meat	…	24
Potatoes	…	28
Eggs	…	16
Sugar	…	17
Milk	…	20
Cheese	…	4
Bacon	…	2
Tea	…	3
		179
Other Subsidies		46
		225