asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state whether it is proposed at an early dateto restore food subsidies so as to enable the price of bread to be reduced from 9d. to 6d. per loaf.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Food Subsidies.
The increase of subsidy so as to effect the proposed reduction in the price of bread and a corresponding reduction in the price of flour would, in a full year and on the basis of present wheat prices, cost £6,900,000. This would necessitate a heavy increase in taxation. The increased taxation would fall in large part on working-class families, while the benefit of the higher subsidy would, under the Deputy's proposal, be conferred on all sections. In the Government's view this arrangement would be unjust, and the answer to the Deputy's question is therefore in the negative.