HC Deb 19 December 1945 vol 417 cc1335-6
66. Mr. Scott-Elliot

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the opinion expressed by the trade representatives of the flour milling industry that the standards laid down by the conference of last January could not be applied unless millers were permitted to reinforce their flour, he will consider raising the rate of extraction to some figure in excess of 80 per cent.

Sir B. Smith

I think my hon. Friend is under some misunderstanding, as I am not aware that the trade representatives of the flour milling industry have said that the standards suggested in the recent re- port could not be attained with 80 per cent. flour. I see no reason, therefore, why the present extraction should not continue in accordance with the unanimous recommendation of the conference.

Mr. Scott-Elliot

Is it not a fact that the four ingredients considered essential to the life of the community were selected by the conference, and that Lord Horder's sub-committee was able to report only three of these ingredients in flour of 80 percent. extraction?

Sir B. Smith

I said that the recommendations of the committee were unanimous, and their view of the necessity for continuing with the 80 percent. extraction was published in the White Paper.