§ Mr. Ridsdaleasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will make a statement on the bread subsidy being paid on loaves smaller than 14 oz, so as to help pensioners in particular who buy these smaller loaves and following the further information the hon. Member for Harwich has given to her after her reply to him of 1st April.
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§ Mr. MaclennanThe arrangements already announced for a subsidy on flour used in the production of bread for sale will apply to all loaves over 10 oz. in weight and will cover nearly 94 per cent. of all bread consumption. Bread and bread products below the weight limit include a wide range of items, and I understand that only a limited number of very small loaves are produced specially to meet the needs of pensioners. I would hope that so far as possible the bakers concerned will seek to avoid increases in the prices of these special loaves.
§ Mr. Radiceasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will now announce the rate of subsidy to be paid to bakers in order to avoid higher bread prices.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI propose, subject to parliamentary approval, to pay a subsidy to bakers to enable them to hold down the price of bread. Payments will be made to bakers who undertake not to increase their bread prices above the levels prevailing on 20th March, and the rate will be £1.21 for each 280 lb. sack of wheat flour used on or after 24th March in the production for sale of loaves of over 10 oz.