§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total expenditure on food subsidies, including provision of milk and meals in schools, cost of bread rationing and other administrative expenses incurred, and also on living subsidies during the past 12 months, compared with expenditure for the same purposes during the year ending with 30th June, 1945.
§ Sir S. CrippsFigures are not available for periods other than the financial year90W to 31st March. The following are the totals of the food and clothing subsidies (including milk for school children but excluding meals in schools).
The overhead expenses of the Ministry of Food are included in the above figures and they include the administrative expenses attributable to rationing, including bread rationing. The administrative expenses attributable to subsidies are negligible. The provision of school meals is not regarded as part of the food subsidies. Its cost to the Exchequer has been as follows:
— Food Subsidies. Clothing and Footwear Subsidies. (£ms). (£ms). 1944–45 (expenditure) 198 1 1945–46 (expenditure) 266 6 1946–47 (expenditure) 345 21 1947–48 (Budget estimate) 392 33
£ms. 1944–45 (expenditure) … … … 6.4 1945–46 (expenditure) … … … 8.5 1946–47 (expenditure) … … … 12.0 1947–48 (estimate) … … … 20.1