HC Deb 23 May 1974 vol 874 c225W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the basis on which he calculated the figure of—40 given in his reply to the hon. Member for Staffordshire, South-West (Mr. Cormack)—[10th April, c. 225–6]— in respect of the subsidy on 20 pints of milk in the calculation on the effect of the Budget on a married couple with two children under 11.

Mr. Dell

When we came into office the price of milk was being held down. The £50 million allocated to this purpose was, however, quite insufficient to keep (he price at that level for a full year. The subsidy announced by my right hon. Friend was sufficient not only to hold the price of milk at that level for a full financial year but also to permit a reduction of 1p per pint in the price. The value of the subsidy to a family buying 20 pints of milk per week will be 40p.