§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the Food Controller what is the average total amount per sack of flour paid by the Ministry of Food to flour millers to reimburse them for loss on manufacture, working expenses, and remuneration to enable them to sell flour at the official price of 44s. 3d. per sack?
§ Mr. McCURDYI am afraid that it would not be possible to give the hon. Member the exact average total figure per sack of flour for which he asks without the expenditure of a very considerable amount of labour. Since 17th September, 1917, when the subsidy was introduced,2402W the average payment by the Ministry of Food to millers for loss on manufacture, working expenses, and remuneration has varied considerably, chiefly owing to the nature of the dilutents used, the extraction required, and the price at which wheat was released by the Royal Commission or purchased from the farmer, and may be considered to have ranged generally from 10s. 6d. to 12s. 6d. per 280 lbs. The average claims per sack paid during the month of January, 1919, have amounted to 12s. 6d. per 280 lbs. on an output of just over 2,000,000 sacks, being approximately two-thirds of the estimated output of all flour mills. I hope that the hon. Member will accept this information as sufficient for his purpose.