§ 12. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to encourage demand for bread containing a high proportion of home-grown soft wheat.
§ Mr. John MackieWe already have the millers' full co-operation in making the maximum use of home-grown wheat so we do not think that any useful purpose would be served by trying to influence public taste in this direction.
§ Mr. DigbyIs it not a fact that more and more soft wheat is being used, and not much encouragement has been received by the millers from the Ministry?
§ Mr. MackieThey have had all the encouragement we can give them. There is not much scope this year anyway. We do not want to encourage much more, since I doubt whether, in view of the bad harvest, there is a supply of the quality required.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsWhat is the proportion of soft wheat in bread at the moment, and what is the Parliamentary Secretary doing to encourage the growing of hard wheat in the Southern Counties?
§ Mr. MackieThe proportion of home-grown wheat in breadflour is about 20 per cent., over all types 34 per cent.