Bread

HC Deb 04 November 1976 vol 918 cc1606-7

9. Mr. Farr

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek to introduce a policy of helping the bread making industry to change its processes to take account of the fact that the majority of existing types of bread produced in the United Kingdom require hard wheat, not usually grown in the United Kingdom in any great quantity.

Mr. Strang

There is as yet no technical process, suitable for use on a commercial scale, by which bread acceptable to the United Kingdom consumer can be made entirely from home or Continental wheat.

Mr. Farr

I thank the Parliamentary Secretary for that reply. I should like to inform him that it is incorrect—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Gentleman must not impart information. He must ask a question.

Mr. Farr

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a process, known as the microwave process, by which an entirely home-grown loaf can be produced and that, moreover, millers are unable to capitalise on the research into such a development because the price of the loaf is now controlled? What will he do about it? Will he take steps to encourage the research that has successfully taken place?

Mr. Strang

I am aware of that important research. I should point out that even when the research and development effort is completed it will be enormously costly to change our industry from its present system of production to one incorporating the microwave process.

Mr. Torney

Is my hon. Friend aware that the present viability of the bread industry is not very good? As he has just said, this greater expense would make its task more difficult. Does he agree that it is wrong that the British people should have inflicted upon them at the order of the Common Market, a different type of bread from that which they have been used to for so many years?

Mr. Strang

I certainly agree that of all the nonsenses that could be imposed on us, it would be most wrong for us to fail to supply our consumers with the bread that they desire.

Mr. Dykes

Will the hon. Gentleman look into the rather disturbing reports that not all wholemeal bread is genuinely wholemeal?

Mr. Strang

I agree that it is quite wrong that any consumer should be sold bread described as wholemeal which is not wholemeal.