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Food Subsidies

Volume 888: debated on Monday 17 March 1975

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asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will list the subsidised foods, showing the prices with and without the subsidy, and the extent to which the subsidies are provided direct by the United Kingdom or via EEC.

On the basis of data collected for the purposes of the General Index of Retail Prices on 14th January 1975 the information is as follows:

Average retail priceEstimated average retail price without subsidy
(Pence)(Pence)
Bread:
White 1¾ lb. Wrapped and sliced loaf1417
White 14 oz. Loaf11½
Butter, United Kingdom, per lb.2736
Cheddar cheese, per lb.40½52½
Flour, self raising, per 3 lb.19½22½
Liquid milk, per pint5
Tea, medium priced, per ¼lb.911
13·5 per cent. of the butter subsidy was contributed from the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, the remainder of the expenditure being borne by the Exchequer. As from 3rd March the butter subsidy was increased to the equivalent of 11p per lb. at the retail level, and the EEC contribution was raised to 20·6 per cent.