§ 36. Sir Francis Fremantle (for Sir Ernest Graham-Little)asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether there are any stocks in this country of wholemeal flour comparable in amount to the stocks of white straight-run flour to implement his undertaking that wholemeal flour can be purchased on the same terms as white flour; and what information he has more recent than that contained in the Royal Commission Report of 1921 as to the preference for white flour which he ascribes to the community generally?
§ Mr. BoothbyNo stocks of wholemeal flour, beyond ordinary trade stocks, are being carried, for the reason that wholemeal flour deteriorates rapidly in store. Exact figures of the quantity consumed are not available, but the proportion lies between 5 per cent. and 10 per cent. of total output. Wholemeal flour is available at the same price as white flour, and the high consumption of the latter appears to afford sufficient evidence of the public's preference.