§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Food what is the present amount of the annual subsidy in respect of bread, flour and oatmeal, given in February, 1946, as £69,400,000; what is the explanation of the announcement that the current bread subsidy is £5,800,000; and why so large a sum as over £60,000,000 is in respect of flour and oatmeal.
§ Mr. StracheyThe estimated amount of the total subsidy for the year to 31st March, 1947, in respect of bread, flour and oatmeal is £65,250,000. The bread subsidy, at present running at the rate of £5,800,000 a year, and estimated to cost £7,700,000 for the year to 31st March, 1947, consists of direct subsidy payments to bakers additional to the flour subsidy proper. This £7,700,000 is, of course, part of the total of £65,250,000 and the remainder represents the cost to the Exchequer of the flour and oatmeal subsidies, that is, the cost of the policy under which flour and oatmeal are made available to bakers and other consumers at stabilized prices.