§ 20. Mr. David Stoddartasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received from organisations representing immigrants about food subsidies; and what reply she has sent.
§ Mr. MaclennanI have received a considerable number of representations on behalf of the Asian community requesting action to hold down the prices of their staple foods, particularly rice and chapatti flour. In my replies I have explained that the Government have no proposals to subsidise rice but that chapatti flour will come within the scope of the scheme for household flour.
§ 36. Mr. MacCormickasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will take steps to ensure that consumer subsidies on basic foodstuffs have the effect of bringing the prices of such commodities in remote areas of Great Britain down to their level in the more populous areas.
§ Mr. MaclennanWe have introduced consumer subsidies in order to hold down the general level of prices of certain basic foodstuffs throughout the country. There would be immense practical difficulties in equalising prices in all parts of Great Britain, and the present subsidy arrangements are not an appropriate instrument for this purpose.