asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state, in detail, the various items which comprise the sum of £2,211,000 provided for food subsidies in the present financial year, distinguishing between the payments made in respect of (a) flour, (b) wheatenmeal, (c) bread, (d) tea and (e) the various other foods, in respect of which subsidies are provided; and whether he will further state the persons, firms or organisations to which such subsidies are payable, and the conditions governing their payment.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers - Food Subsidies.
The sum of £2,211,000 inserted in the Estimate in respect of food subsidies in the financial year 1947-48 is made up as follows:—
|
£ |
|
|
(a) Amount required to subsidise flour |
2,000,000 |
|
(b) Amount required to subsidise wheatenmeal |
35,000 |
|
(c) Amount required to subsidise batch bread |
175,000 |
|
(d) Amount required to subsidise tea |
1,000 |
|
£2,211,000 |
|
|
(e) Other foodstuffs |
Nil |
These subsidies are payable as follows:—
(a) The flour subsidy is payable to Grain Importers (Eire), Limited, to recoup them for losses incurred in the sale of imported wheat to millers. To enable millers to sell flour at the controlled price the price of imported wheat is adjusted by reference to the quantity of native wheat incorporated in the grist from time to time and which is purchased by the millers themselves from growers and dealers. The payment of the subsidy is subject to the compliance of Grain Importers (Eire), Limited, with directions issued by me from time to time in regard to the adjustment of wheat prices.
(b) The wheatenmeal subsidy is payable direct to licensed wheatenmeal millers in respect of wheatenmeal produced and sold by them. The subsidy is designed to enable these millers to sell wheatenmeal at the controlled price while paying the full price fixed by the Minister for Agriculture for native wheat. Payment is made on the basis of certified sales figures, provided a miller sells his wheatenmeal at the appropriate price.
(c) The subsidy on batch bread is payable to bakers licensed under the Emergency Powers (Bakers) Order, 1941. Such bakers are required by the Emergency Powers (Bakers) Order, 1941 (Amendment) Order, 1943, to keep a weekly record of production and sales of bread. Payment is made on the basis of certified sales figures, subject to the keeping of the prescribed record and to the baker's compliance with the Orders and regulations governing the production and sale of flour, bread and confectionery.
(d) The item of £1,000 in respect of subsidy on tea is inserted to cover any balance which, after examination of audited figures, may be found to be payable to Tea Importers (Eire), Limited, to complete the recoupment of losses incurred by them on the sale of tea imported some years ago. The tea in question was sold below cost at a price fixed by me.