§ 59. Sir Leonard Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can now state, as regards England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, the amount of saving there has been since the introduction of the whole-meal loaf from the point of view both of wheat imported and of reduced consumption?
§ Mr. MabaneIf the consumption of bread remained constant then the saving of wheat represented by the alteration in the extraction rate would be approximately 10 per cent. The total amount of the saving of imported wheat would depend on the yield of the home produced crop. Although it is difficult as yet to make a statement with any degree of accuracy it would appear that the consumption of bread has declined very slightly since the introduction of the national loaf.
§ Mr. BoothbyHas the Ministry under consideration the possibility of introducing oatmeal flour into the national loaf?
§ Mr. MabaneYes, Sir.
Miss RathboneHas the possibility been considered of using potatoes in the national loaf so as to reconcile the need for using more potatoes with the demand for greater fuel economy?
§ Mr. MabaneAll possible dilutants are under consideration by the Ministry of Food.