13. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food whether he will now consider changing the policy of milling flour at 85 per cent. extraction, and substituting a 72 per cent. extraction so as to enable a greater quantity of feedingstuffs to be available to the pig and poultry producers throughout the country.
§ Mr. StracheyI am afraid I cannot add to the answer I gave the hon. Member for West Aberdeen (Mr. Thornton-Kemsley) on 4th May.
Mr. De la BèreDoes not the Minister realise how absolutely urgent and vital it is to increase livestock throughout the country, including pigs and poultry? Why not abandon the idea of importing the finished article and import wheat to prevent the reduction in feedingstuffs for animals? Surely the Government must have some sense of awareness. The situation is absolutely critical and yet there is a broad grin on the faces of the right hon. Gentlemen on the Government Front Bench?
§ Mr. StracheyI am well aware of the importance of importing feedstuffs, but it is not by any means certain that it is better to import them in the form of wheat and for us to process that wheat, than to import increased barley, oats and other grains.