§ Mr. Hurdasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will give her present estimate of the total cost to public funds of food subsidies during the financial year 1974–75 and the comparable estimate as at 28th February 1974.
§ Mr. MaclennanThe latest estimate of the cost of food subsidies in 1974–75 is about £490 million. On 28th February 1974, £9 million was allocated for the general butter subsidy and, though it was clear that the sum would not be sufficient to hold the price of milk at its then level, £50 million was provisionally allocated for the subsidy on liquid milk.