asked the Minister of Food the annual cost of administering the food subsidies.

In the great majority of cases food subsidies are provided by sales at prices below the purchase cost. Apart from the welfare foods, milk in schools and national milk schemes no appreciable extra administrative expense is involved.

Could not the Minister answer the Question? What is the cost of administering the food subsidies?

As I have just said, there is no appreciable cost in administering the food subsidies themselves. It is simply the sale of the food at a lower price than that at which it has been purchased. The difference is the subsidy, not the administrative cost of the subsidy.

Surely, the Minister must know what that figure is?

It is nil, if the hon. Member wishes to have it put like that.

Is it not a fact that. the Minister of Food believes in the profit motive, and that, in fact, the consumer pays?