asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he is aware of the serious hardships caused to poor families and to recipients of old age and widows' pensions etc, as a result of the increase in flour and bread prices; and if he will take the necessary steps to have the prices of those commodities reduced.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour and Bread Prices.
173.
I regret the recent increases in flour and bread prices. I raised no objection to them because I was satisfied that they were rendered necessary by increased costs falling on millers and bakers and that the millers and bakers would not continue in business if they were not allowed to recover these increased costs by raising their prices.
Would the Government not reconsider introducing subsidies on foodstuffs in view of the hardship imposed by the continuing increase in food prices and the cost of living?
It is unlikely that the Government would embark on that policy now. While it is true that there have been increases in the cost of foodstuffs, it is also true that for most people real incomes have increased more than the cost of living in recent years.
That is doubtful, especially in the case of the lower paid people.