HC Deb 09 April 1957 vol 568 c110W
Mr. Hurd

asked the Minister of Labour what effect changes in retail food prices have had on the cost of living over the past year and to what extent the removal of food subsidies has affected the cost of living idex.

Mr. Iain Macleod

Between February, 1956, and February, 1957 (the latest date for which figures are available), changes in food prices were responsible for a rise of about 1⅓ points in the Index of Retail Prices, of which about I point was accounted for by the removal of the remaining subsidy on bread and the reduction of the subsidy on milk.