Food Subsidies

HC Deb 12 January 1976 vol 903 cc40-2W

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of civil servants in his Department administering food subsidies on 1st January 1976; and what was the annual administrative cost on that date, including both salaries and administrative overheads.

Mr. Peart

The number of civil servants administering food subsidies in my Department on 1st January 1976 was 150 at an annual cost, in salaries and administrative overheads, of £931,265.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked 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 25th June 1975.

Mr. Peart

The amount of cheese subsidy authorised for payment up to 31st December 1975 was:

		£
Home Produced
Cheddar and Cheshire	…	44,016,432
Other UK Territorials	…	12,167,689
		56,184,121
Imported (a)
Cheddar and Cheshire	…	21,965,950
Edam and Gouda	…	4,804,829
All other varieties	…	1,834,773
		28,605,552
Imported (b)
Processed Cheese	…	552,419
Cheese Spreads	…	57,476
Powdered Cheese	…	731,283
		1,341,178
Total	…	86,130,851

Of these payments, £1,075,001 has subsequently been repaid, but it is not practicable to allocate the repayments between types of cheese.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current staffing establishment of the cheese subsidy section of the food subsidies division of his Department; and what is the annual administrative cost, including both salaries and administrative overheads.

Mr. Peart

The cheese subsidy section of the food subsidies division has now been combined with the tea subsidy section. The cheeese subsidy work is done by one principal (shared), one higher executive officer, one executive officer, two clerical officers, and one clerical assistant.

The annual cost to public funds covering both salaries and administrative expenses is estimated at £42,600 in a full year. The equivalent costs of staff elsewhere in my Department engaged on payment and financial controls over the cheese subsidy amount to £67,800.