Madam Speaker, Government is fully cognisant of the impact of prevailing inflationary pressures on households, particularly on the most vulnerable segments of the population. Since March 2025, the retail prices of additional commodities were put under price control, maximum mark-up regime. These include 25% of mark-up which was introduced on canned vegetables and 34% on frozen packed vegetables to increase the purchasing power of consumers, especially for low to middle income families. A price control list was extended for new products such as canned sausages, canned poultry, like Luncheon Meat, canned tuna, canned prawns, shrimps, butter and margarine. During the Budget 2025-2026, the Government has removed VAT on essential commodities such as infant foods, canned vegetables and frozen packed vegetables. Furthermore, Government has put in place a Price Stabilisation Fund of Rs10 billion over a period of 5 years, representing an annual amount of Rs2 billion. This fund is specially designed to cushion customers against increases in the prices of essential goods. On 26 August 2025, Government introduced a fixed quantum subsidy mechanism under the Price Stabilisation Fund on key essential commodities, namely – (i) Rs50 per kg on milk powder; (ii) Rs15 per litre on edible oil; (iii) Rs55 per 900g on infant milk powder; (iv) Rs25 per pack of 50 baby diapers, and (v) Rs10 per 250g on processed cheese. This programme has subsequently been expanded as follows – (i) on 15 January 2026, to include a subsidy of 50 cents per unit on adult diapers, and (ii) on 01 February 2026, to include a subsidy of Rs10 per can on canned mackerel and pilchards as well as Rs50 per box on essential medicines, namely antihypertensive, cardiovascular and anti-diabetic products, covering some 829 medicines available on the market. Madam Speaker, I wish to underline that this measure is not merely a policy announcement, but it is fully operational. At the end of February 2026, an amount of approximately Rs641 million for the essential commodities mentioned has already been disbursed under the Price Stabilisation Fund. This figure is expected to reach around Rs900 million by June 2026. The total projected disbursement is around Rs1.6 billion for the FINANCIAL YEAR 2025-2026. In addition, an amount of Rs331 million is being provided to support bakeries for the latter to maintain the price of scheduled bread at Rs2.60. These measures are yielding measurable and tangible results. For instance, the subsidy mechanism has contributed to the following – (a) a reduction of approximately 24.2% in the retail price of milk powder; (b) a decrease of around 5.8% in the price of edible oil; (c) reductions ranging between 5-6% for other essential commodities, and (d) price decreases of up to 42% for certain essential medicines. In fact, it has been found that the prices of some subsidised commodities are even now lower than those prevailing prior to November 2024. This clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of assistance provided by the Government. Government is also providing direct financial assistance to vulnerable groups through social aid schemes, including monthly income support, food assistance and targeted allowances for single mothers, children and persons with disabilities. Madam Speaker, as demonstrated, Government has already implemented a comprehensive assistance framework through the Price Stabilisation Fund which directly addresses the impact of inflation on the most vulnerable segments of the population. Nevertheless, Government continues to closely monitor developments and remains prepared to further calibrate and expand targeted support measures where necessary, in a manner that is both effective and fiscally sustainable. It is to be noted that this is a main item which is being looked into by the crisis committee.

Alright. Hon. Ramkalawon asked first. Then, you.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Can the Minister organise, through his Ministry, strict control on edible oil, especially because of the low supply? Some suppliers are actually hiding some stocks.

Hoarding!

Yes, exactly! Thank you.

That’s the term.

Madam Speaker, I believe that there is full stock of edible oil. But if there is any issue, please, contact us on the Hotline 185.

Merci, Madame la présidente.

Plus fort!

Puis-je savoir de l’honorable ministre, depuis la mise en pratique du maximum mark-up en novembre 2024, on est en train de parler de 700 millions de roupies, – je vous explique, donnez-moi le temps – pourcentage concrètement aujourd’hui, est-ce qu’on peut avoir une liste comparative entre novembre 2024 et aujourd’hui, de certains produits, produits de base ? Si vous n’avez pas, vous pouvez déposer à la table de l’Assemblée ?

En fait, j’ai deux listes avec moi. J’ai une liste des prix avec subsides, donc – (i) il y a le lait Farmland, par exemple, aujourd’hui c’est en vente à R 256.62. Quand on le compare avec en novembre 2024, c’était à R 274.90.

Ne nous lisez pas tout !

Donc, je peux donner quelques exemples.

Allez, trois !

Oui, trois exemples, côté subsides. Donc, – (ii) Bega processed cheese, R 82.49 aujourd’hui et en novembre 2024, c’était à R 95.29. (iii) Et puis, de l’huile Moroil R 71.49 aujourd’hui, et c’était en novembre 2024, c’était à R 79.70. J’ai aussi quelques items, ici, sur les produits maximum mark-up. Je vais aussi donner trois items. Donc, – (i) McCain Tradition Fries R 134.21 aujourd’hui, le prix maximum, et en novembre 2024, c’était à R 183, soit 36.5 % en moins. (ii) Watties Garden Peas (900g) R 190.54 aujourd’hui, et c’était, en novembre 2024, R 236, soit 38 % aujourd’hui en moins. (iii) Un dernier point, Belinda Red Kidney Beans R 29.73 aujourd’hui, et en novembre 2024, c’était à R 46, soit 54 % en moins. Et aussi, je vais prendre la peine de déposer à la Chambre. Merci.

Oui, je crois que c’est bien. Merci beaucoup, M. le ministre. Heureusement qu’on a bien mangé, ça ne nous donne pas faim. Okay, any more? Mr Juman, have you finished? Okay, next question, B/273, has been withdrawn. So, now I am asking for B/274, Dr. Aumeer! HIGHLANDS – INCINERATOR – FIRE CERTIFICATE