§ Mr. Edwards Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection whether she is now in a position to announce the details of the subsidy scheme for household flour; and if she will make a statement.
§ Mrs. Shirley WilliamsI confirm that it is the Government's intention to introduce a subsidy on household flour, including chapatti flour, as soon as possible. Unfortunately, it has not yet been possible to determine the rate of this subsidy or its operative date. Its object, like that of all the consumer subsidies the Government has introduced, is to stabilise food prices as far as possible, and it thus has to take account of the timing of price increases which would otherwise take place. The trade are now expected to notify their intentions to the Price Commission shortly, and the rate of subsidy will be decided within the next few weeks in the light of the commission's determination.