§ 45. Dr. Littleasked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the complaint of the Master Bakers' Association that bakers have to be satisfied with an inferior quality of barley for bread as all the first-quality barley is being purchased by the brewers for making beer; and what steps he intends to take to safeguard the quality of bread.
§ Colonel LlewellinNo, Sir, I am not aware of any such complaint. In regard to the second part of the Question, the quality of bread sold in all parts of Great Britain is constantly tested and cases of poor quality are immediately investigated.
§ Dr. LittleIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware of the statement made in the Press, that the best barley was purchased by the brewers at the maximum price and the remainder was bought by the Minister of Food at the minimum price; and, in view of this, does he not consider that the best barley should be purchased for the bread of the people, and will he see that this is done in future?
§ Colonel LlewellinNo, Sir, at the moment we are taking barley out of bread altogether. In Northern Ireland, for instance, there has been no barley in bread since the end of January.