§ 55. Mr. W. H. Greenasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the recent Order of his Ministry to millers, reducing the admixture of imported white flour from 12½ per cent. to 5 per cent., and the increase in the usage of home-grown wheat in the grist will more than offset the recently-announced reduction from 85 per cent. to 82½ per cent. in flour extraction from wheat; and if he will take steps to provide the promised whiter loaf.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe proportion of imported white flour was purposely lowered from 12½ per cent. to 5 per cent. in order to ease the disposal of the flour which had already been milled at 85 per cent. extraction. The admixture rate has now been raised to 10 per cent., and the 1359 home-grown grain forms only 40 per cent. of the grist, as compared to 60 per cent. in some areas last season.
§ Mr. GreenIs the Minister aware that consumers of bread are blaming their suppliers for not producing a whiter loaf, because they were led to expect it by his Ministry's statement?
§ Colonel LlewellinI never led anybody to expect that there would quickly be a whiter loaf: I said that it would come gradually. But certainly the bakers and the millers are doing their best in this matter.