§ Mr. Osborneasked the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost of the leather subsidy to the boot and shoe industry per annum; how much does it represent on the average per pair; and will he take it off and allow the domestic price to equal world price; and will maximum utility prices be fixed at higher levels.
§ Mr. BelcherThe subsidy is at present estimated to amount to £14 million a year which represents on the average about 2s. 6d. a pair on all types of footwear produced. It has been decided that the subsidies on leather shall be removed and this will naturally involve a revision of utility footwear prices.