Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 17 April 1947.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
12:00,
17 April 1947
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer the annual cost to the taxpayer of the subsidy on eggs.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
About £31,750,000 in 1946–47, including dried eggs and egg products
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this amount is included in the food subsidies? Is he aware that if this subsidy was passed on to the producers, who take all the risks, he would get many more eggs? May I have an answer?
Lieut-Commander Joseph Braithwaite
, Holderness
Can the figure be broken down to give the amount of subsidy for shell eggs?
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
Certainly; it is £16 million on home-produced eggs—that is shell eggs. The subsidy on imported eggs comes to £4.5 million, making a total of £20.5 million. On dried eggs and egg products, it is £11,250,000.
Sir Waldron Smithers
, Orpington
Will the right hon. Gentleman now consider trying to pass on some of this £16 million to the producers, and thereby get more eggs?
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
