46. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Prime Minister whether he will find time for a 1335 discussion of the Motion standing in the name of the hon. Member for Evesham relating to milling combines?
§ ["That this House deplores the effect on wheat offals for stock-feeding of the Government's wheat policy under which the millers have to find approximately £1 per quarter on a crop of 8,000,000 quarters with the consequence that the price charged for offals is at least as much as the farmer receives for his wheat; considers that the raising of the price of flour would not be an acceptable solution of the problem; is of the opinion that the profits of the milling combines, who have been enabled to reap undue benefits from past legislation, should be limited; and, as the present prices of flour and offals are inequitable to consumers of bread and stock-feeding farmers, calls upon the Government to institute immediate inquiries with a view to fixing a maximum price for home-produced wheat offals and a reduction in the price of flour."]
§ The Prime MinisterI regret that I cannot hold out any hope of special time being given for the discussion of the Motion standing in the name of my hon. Friend.
Mr. De la BèreIs my right hon. Friend aware of the great importance of this matter and of the fact that farmers are paying for their wheat offal supplies 50 per cent. more than they are getting for their wheat; and can he assist me to get from the Board of Trade or the Ministry of Agriculture any real information, as one Department refers back to another?
§ The Prime MinisterI would remind my hon. Friend that facilities already exist for discussion of this question on a private Member's Motion.