§ 23. Mr. Stodartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price per ton of imported wheat in February this year and in February 1962, respectively.
§ 36 and 37. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how far the reduction in the average ex farm price for wheat from £23 14s. 4d. per ton in January 1962 to £17 3s. 4d. in January 1963 was reflected in reduced prices to the consumer;
(2) by how much per ton the Exchequer cost of the support price of wheat rose between January 1962 and January 1963.
§ Mr. SoamesThe average c.i.f. value of imported wheat in February was £26 14s. a ton compared with £26 10s. in February last year. As a result of the much heavier home crop this year the cost of the Exchequer support of wheat was about £6 10s. a ton greater this February than last. The price of bread flour has been reduced by 2s. per sack.
§ Mr. StodartIn view of the very substantial difference, amounting to £10 a ton, between the price of dried home wheat and dried imported wheat, will my right hon. Friend say whether there is no opportunity of taking greater advantage of the cheaper home-grown wheat for use in the bread baked in this country, as has been done in many European countries, thereby reducing the cost of the loaf still further?
§ Mr. SoamesOur loaf is of a type different from the European loaf. It requires a good deal of hard wheat, which 1305 is not put into the European loaf. The proportion going into the grist is about 20 per cent. of home-grown soft wheat, and the bulk of the remainder is either hard or semi-hard wheat which are not grown in this country.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not very disappointing for our farmers who have kept their wheat for a long time in expensive bins to find that they are getting so little for the difference, and doubly disappointing in that during that time the price of grain, far from falling, has actually risen?
§ Mr. SoamesBecause the price of imported wheat has remained more or less steady while that of home wheat has fallen, the price of a 280 lb. sack has fallen by 2s. in the last year. As 9s. a sack represents a ½d. on a loaf of bread, 2s. represents about one-eighth of a penny. As to the position of farmers who have been hanging on to their wheat, I think that my hon. Friend will bear in mind that last harvest we had a record production of some 3½ million tons of good wheat, which was much higher than ever produced before. The amount going into the grist was more or less the same, so an increasing proportion has had to be sold for feed wheat.
§ Mr. MackieWould not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the wheat which we grow in this country and for which we are paid at such a low price is the same as that grown in France, mostly Capelle Duprez, which produces the most beautiful bread, which I am sure the right hon. Gentleman enjoys as we all do? Why cannot we do the same in this country and save ourselves millions of £s?
§ Mr. SoamesThe French loaf has qualities which are different from our loaf. The hon. Member might have views about the French loaf, but on the whole the public gets the type of loaf it wants.