55. Mr. De la B èreasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will have some inquiry made regarding the increase in the percentage relationship between the price of home-grown wheat and British bran, in view of the increased widening of the relationship in 1938 compared with 1914?
§ The Minister of Agriculture (Colonel Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith)I have examined the pre-War and present price of wheat, flour and milling offals and I can 898 find nothing to suggest that a more exhaustive inquiry into the relationship between the prices of these products would be profitable.
Mr. De la BèreWill my right hon. and gallant Friend consider establishing a precedent, and will he endeavour to resist the domination of his Department by the Board of Trade? Will he further inquire, in view of the milling combine with their price-fixing association, into the discrepancy which now exists?
§ Mr. T. WilliamsIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman really satisfied that the price charged by millers to consumers of bran is appropriate in all the circumstances.
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is another question.
§ Mr. WilliamsMay I ask whether the consumers of bread subsidise not only the miller but the farmer, and will the Minister see that the prices to consumers of by-products of wheat are no higher than they ought to be?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThat is a different question from the one on the Paper.
§ Mr. J. MorganHas the right hon. and gallant Gentleman had his attention drawn to the memorandum submitted by the Poultry Council to this effect and asking for an inquiry?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThis question asks about the percentage relationship between the price of home-grown wheat and British bran in view of the increased widening of the relationship in 1938 com pared with 1914. We have made an inquiry and the relationship is not very different.
§ Mr. MorganWill the Minister under take to look at the memorandum?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithI will certainly look at it.
Mr. De la B èreIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the producer and the consumer do not gain, and that only the milling combine gains?