§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of subsidised butter from intervention stocks were purchased by educational charities in the latest year for which figures are available; and what was the average subsidy per pound.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithFigures on the amount of butter obtained at a reduced price by non-profit making organisations are not kept in a form which enables educational charities to be separately identified. The total amount of butter purchased at a reduced price from United Kingdom intervention stocks by non-profit making organisations, including educational charities, in 1980, the latest full year in which such sales took place, was 5,311 tonnes. The average reduction in price was approximately 48p per pound. Currently an alternative scheme is in operation under which non-profit making organisations can obtain a subsidy on butter purchases on the open market. In 1982 this subsidy which amounts to approximately 53p per pound was paid on 4,934 tonnes of butter in the United Kingdom.