Private Industries And Agriculture (Subsidies)

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51.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a list of subsidies paid to private industries and agriculture for 1951–52; and to what extent he estimates that they will be varied for 1952–53.

Subsidies to private industries and agriculture for the financial year 1951–52 and 1952–53 are as follows:

	1951–52	1952–53
	£	£
Iron and steel	7,900,000	4,500,000
Watchmaking and jewel manufacturing	12,000	25,000
Motor industry (racing cars)	25,000	40,000
Cotton spinning	700,000	800,000
Hotels	175,000	375,000
Crafts	45,000	45,000
Harbours	9,000	350
Agriculture	31,214,000	36,975,000
Fishing	2,011,000	1,871,000

1. The above list shows the amounts included in the Estimates which have been presented to Parliament for subsidies to particular industries. It does not include losses on trading by Government Departments; nor does it include expenditure provided under general policies such as housing, social services, cost-of-living, the training, resettlement and transference of labour distribution of industry, improvement of design or research.

2. The total amount voted in 1951–52 in respect of iron and steel for both subsidy and trading loss was £9,840,000. There will be no trading loss in 1952–53.

3. The payments to the motor industry, hotels and craftsmen are in relief of Purchase Tax. Articles such as certain types of jewellery, gold and silverware, furniture and musical instruments qualify for this relief under the scheme for assistance to craftsmen, administered by the Board of Trade (Class VI Vote 1 Subhead 0, 1951–52 Estimate).

4. The figures for agriculture include crop acreage payments and the general fertiliser subsidy, which together total £520,000 for 1951–52 and £13,002,000 for 1952–53; these are part of the food subsidies, and for statistical purposes have not been included in previous agricultural subsidy figures. The attested herds scheme bonuses, which also rank as food subsidies, are included.

5. The figures for the fishing industry include £1,546,000 in each year for the white fish subsidy, which is counted as a food subsidy.

Volume 498: debated on Tuesday 1 April 1952