§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of civil servants in his Department administering food subsidies on 1st June 1975; and what was the annual administrative cost on that date, including both salaries and administrative overheads.
§ Mr. StrangThe number of civil servants administering subsidies in my Department on 1st June 1975 was 151, at an annual cost of £820,670.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to public funds, 170W both in salaries and administrative expenses, of the cheese subsidy section of his Food Subsidies Division at its current establishment.
§ Mr. Strang£49,270.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes there have been in the staffing establishment of the cheese subsidy section of the Food Subsidies Division of his Department since 20th January 1975.
§ Mr. StrangThere has been a reduction of two posts, one at executive officer level and one at clerical officer level.
§ Mr. Michael Lathamasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now set out in tabular form the total sums paid out to date in respect of cheese subsidy under each of the headings listed in his answer to the hon. Member for Melton on 20th January 1975.
§ Mr. StrangThe amount of cheese subsidy authorised for payment up to 31st May 1975—the latest date to which final figures are available—was:
£ Home Produced: Cheddar and Cheshire 23,838,420 Other United Kingdom Territorials 7,134,105 30,972,525 Imported: (a) Cheddar and Cheshire 13,164,975 Edam and Gouda 2,825,701 All other varieties 1,219,361 17,210,037 (b) Processed Cheese 299,627 Cheese Spreads 38,970 Powdered Cheese 353,375 691,972 Total £48,874,534