asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of civil servants in his Department administering food subsidies on 1st June 1975; and what was the annual administrative cost on that date, including both salaries and administrative overheads.

The number of civil servants administering subsidies in my Department on 1st June 1975 was 151, at an annual cost of £820,670.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to public funds, both in salaries and administrative expenses, of the cheese subsidy section of his Food Subsidies Division at its current establishment.

£49,270.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes there have been in the staffing establishment of the cheese subsidy section of the Food Subsidies Division of his Department since 20th January 1975.

There has been a reduction of two posts, one at executive officer level and one at clerical officer level.

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 20th January 1975.

The amount of cheese subsidy authorised for payment up to 31st May 1975—the latest date to which final figures are available—was: