§ Sir W. Smithersasked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the fact that between February, 1945, and June, 1946, the rebate or subsidy on coat weight cloths was raised from 7½d. to 1s. 6d., on Meltons, cotton warp, from 6d. to 1s. 3d., and on dress weights from 3d. to 7½d., he will state the total cost to date to the Exchequer of these subsidies or rebates; and to what extent these subsidies or rebates are included in the £369,000,000 cost-of-living subsidies.
§ Mr. MarquandMy hon. Friend is misinformed. The subsidy was not increased between the dates mentioned, but from 1st June, 1946. Payments of subsidy in respect of utility wool cloths amounted to £3,261,000 for the six months April to September. The figure of £369 million given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 17th October related only to the subsidies on food and consequently does not include the cost of subsidies on utility cloth.