§ 20. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much per pint milk is being sold below its cost of production and distribution, exclusive of welfare milk; how much per 14 ounce loaf of bread is also being sold below its real total cost; and what is the annual subsidy involved in each case, separately.
Mr. AmoryThe milk subsidy, excluding the welfare schemes, and the bread subsidy were estimated to cost £28.9 million and £40.7 million respectively in the current financial year. These figures represent unit subsidies of about ⅔ pence per pint on all milk sold for liquid consumption and ld. per 14 oz. loaf. These figures do not take account of the changes in producers' prices resulting from the 1955 Annual Review and in other costs since the estimates were made.