§ 40. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is the total sum to date committed to food subsidies; and what effect they have had on the cost of living.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe amount committed to the existing subsidies on milk, butter, bread and cheese in 1974–75 is £380 million. The estimated effect of these subsidies is about 4¼ per cent. on the food index, and just over 1 per cent. on the retail prices index as a whole.