§ 53. Mr. Stokesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the germ is removed from wheat in the process of milling white flour; to whom the germ is sold by the millers; and for what purpose?
§ Mr. BoothbyThe answer to the first part of the Question is in the affirmative. I am informed that a number of millers separate a part of the wheat germ and sell it to other millers for incorporation with brown flour and other proprietary flours, or to feeding-stuff manufacturers for incorporation in certain animal feeding-stuffs; and some is used for pharmaceutical purposes. The residue of the germ remains in the wheat offal, which is mostly sold as a feeding-stuff for livestock.
§ Mr. StokesIs the Parliamentary Secretary not aware that much of the germ goes to what is known as "health bread," and is not that in itself evidence that it ought to be left in the flour from which the ordinary loaf is made?
§ Mr. BoothbyI shall be making a statement on that subject to-morrow, and perhaps my hon. Friend will wait till then.
§ Mr. SilvermanCould the Parliamentary Secretary say whether it would be practicable to make bread containing the germ available to people who prefer it at a price not greater than that charged for the loaf made from ordinary white flour?
§ Mr. BoothbyPerhaps my hon. Friend will await the statement which I shall make to-morrow.