§ Mr. Jim Marshallasked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what is his estimate of the cost of the milk subsidy in 1977–78; and what is the rate of subsidy per pint.
§ Mr. MaclennanExpenditure on the milk subsidy paid by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food through the guarantee arrangements in 1977–78 is estimated at £19 million; this is equivalent to about ½p per pint for four months 509W of the year. The rate of subsidy paid in accordance with schemes under Section 1 of the Prices Act 1974 on milk produced in certain Scottish islands and in the Isles of Scilly was accordingly reduced from 1p per pint to ½p per pint on 1st April 1977. No change is being made in the statutory maximum retail price of milk.