§ 15. Mr. OUTHWAITEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the French Government has placed any restriction on the consumption of bread; if so, can he state the amount fixed and at what price bread is sold; and can he state the price now ruling for wheat in France?
Captain BATHURSTThe French Government have not placed any direct restriction upon the consumption of bread, although various measures in regard to the sale of fresh bread and the size and weight of loaves have been adopted, which, like similar measures in this country, tend to restrict consumption and avoid waste. I am informed that the present price of bread in France is 45 centimes per kilogramme, and that the price of wheat, delivered to the miller, is 34½ francs per 100 kilogrammes.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITECan the hon. Gentleman put those figures into British equivalents?
Captain BATHURSTI will endeavour to furnish the hon. Member with those figures. He did not ask for them in his questions, but I am quite prepared to furnish the information if he gives notice.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEAre bread and wheat being sold cheaper in France than in this country?
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEHow then does he say—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must really have some consideration for the Departments. He asks the most thoroughgoing questions as supplementaries without giving any opportunity of having them considered.