HL Deb 21 May 1952 vol 176 cc1230-1
LORD TEVIOT

My Lords, I beg to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what subsidies are allowed for all types of flour and the baking thereof.]

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, national flour (or other flours selling at the same price) is subsidised at present at the rate of about 20s. per sack of 280 lb. Speciality flours, with the exception of semolina and high ratio cake flour, are subsidised to at least the same extent. Flour for biscuits or for export is unsubsidised. Semolina and high ratio cake flour are also unsubsidised. Imported flour is subsidised only when mixed with home-produced flour to produce national flour. The current rate of baking subsidy on average is about 12s. 6d. per sack of flour used in making price-controlled bread.

LORD TEVIOT

My Lords, I thank the noble Earl for his reply. I do not think I have any supplementary questions to ask.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, it was a little difficult to catch all of the noble Earl's answer, but did I understand him to say that high ratio extraction flour is not subsidised? If so, why not?

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, I regret that I do not know the answer but I will write it to the noble Lord.

LORD CALVERLEY

My Lords, could the noble Earl define "national flour"?

EARL FORTESCUE

My Lords, there are a number of speciality flours manufactured in accordance with different individual formulae. The permitted selling prices are higher than the selling price for national flour and maintain the same relationships as pre-war between the price of each individual speciality product and the price of ordinary flour. Because of the different extraction rates it is impossible to estimate the subsidy rates for each individual speciality flour, but since the extraction rates are lower than for national flour the amounts of subsidy per sack of the speciality flours must be higher than the rate per sack of national flour.

LORD CALVERLEY

My Lords, would the House allow me to express my great gratitude to the noble Earl for his most illuminating reply?