§ 20. Mr. A. WILLIAMSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Control whether any licences are now being granted, or have recently been granted, for malting grain; and, if so, for what reasons and to what extent?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of FOOD CONTROL (Captain Bathurst)Licences are still being granted to make coloured malt for 2018 stout and Mack beers up to the extent permitted under the Order restricting the output of beer. Coloured malt has to be freshly made, so that no stocks can be accumulated. Licences are also being granted for the purpose of distilling for munitions, for the manufacture of bread, yeast, vinegar, non-alcoholic beer, biscuits, medicines and chemical foods, and for certain processes in the making of aeroplanes.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSIs the grain so being used surplus which is not necessary for food?
§ 21. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Control whether 9,600 quarters of grain are still being consumed monthly in producing potable spirit by patent-still distilleries; whether this spirit is still being used for the export trade in gin; and whether the grain so used is surplus grain not needed for the food of our people?
Captain BATHURSTOwing to the increasing requirements of spirit for the manufacture of explosives for war purposes and the essential industrial trades, the use of spirit for the export trade in gin has been very considerably reduced. Actually only about 1,000 quarters, representing 24,000 gallons, have been issued for this purpose during the last three weeks. I propose to confer with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Munitions, with a view to stopping this issue altogether.
§ 22. Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Control whether the pot-still distilleries are still working out licences given for the present season, amounting to 8,500,000 proof gallons; how many weeks of the present season remain, and how many gallons of the above 8,500,000 remain to be produced; how many quarters of grain are consumed to produce each 100 gallons; and whether the grain so consumed is surplus grain not needed for the food of the people?
Captain BATHURSTThe answer to the first portion of the question is in the affirmative. No general statement can be given as to how many weeks of the present season remain, as the periods vary in the case of each individual distillery. It is not possible to state how many gallons 2019 remain to be produced, but, speaking generally, the number is small. At least two-thirds of the pot-still distilleries have completed their whole licensed output for the season. Approximately four quarters of grain is used to produce 100 proof gallons of spirit. The grain required for the manufacture has all been malted, and its diversion, even if practicable, could not affect an appreciable saving.
§ 24. Mr. COOTEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if it is possible to convert the barley already malted into some form of animal or human food in order to preserve as much as possible our diminishing supply of cereals? Captain BATHURST: As I informed the hon. Member for North-West Durham last Tuesday, malted barley is capable of being used for human food. In point of fact a considerable amount of it is utilised for malt extracts and for infant and invalid foods. The suggestion made would involve putting an end to the production of beer altogether. The Government have not yet come to the conclusion that such a step is necessary or practicable.
§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARMay I ask whether the Food Controller did not state in the country in January that it was a question now of bread or beer, and whether it is not desirable that the whole of this malt should be saved for the production of bread?
Captain BATHURSTNo doubt that is desirable, but, as I pointed out in reply to a question last week, if brewers' malt were used for bread making the bread so produced would cost at least three times as much as the ordinary loaf.
§ Mr. A. WILLIAMSIs it not cheaper than starving?
§ Mr. WINGIs it really a fact that the amount of barley now preserved represents the present bread rations for over 7,000,000 people for over thirteen weeks?
§ 25. Mr. COOTEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the quantity of grain now being used monthly in the manufacture of 2020 alcohol for munition and other industrial purposes; and if, instead, he will utilise, as has been done in France, stocks of bonded whisky at present in the country for this purpose, which can be made adaptable by redistilling or otherwise without having recourse to the destruction of the necessary food of the people?
§ 26. Mr. MILLARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food Control whether his attention has been directed to the quantity of cereals and other food materials which are being used at present for the manufacture of alcohol for munition purposes; and whether, in view of the opinions of expert chemists that a large quantity of the accumulated stocks of bonded spirits could be employed for that purpose, he will take steps to prevent the further use of food materials for the manufacture of alcohol until the bonded spirits, so far as suitable for the purpose, are exhausted?
Captain BATHURSTThe quantity of grain now being used monthly in the manufacture of alcohol for munitions and other industrial purposes is estimated at 120,000 quarters. The suggestion made by the hon. Member has received careful attention. I may, however, point out that the manufacture of alcohol is coincident with the production of yeast required for bread making, and unless the necessary yeast can be provided by other methods it will be difficult to reduce the present limited manufacture of alcohol. Yeast is already scarce for bread making. I am conferring with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Munitions on this subject.
§ Mr. MILLARMay I ask whether, in the opinion of the experts consulted by his Department, it is not quite possible to manufacture alcohol for munition purposes out of bonded spirits, and whether it would not be possible to make an immediate start with an experiment in the matter?
Captain BATHURSTThat is one of the questions which is being discussed this afternoon between the two Departments concerned.
§ Mr. MILLARHas not this question now been under consideration for several months, and, having regard to the great shortage of food, is it not desirable to come to a decision at once?