§ Mr. THORNEasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that the London bakers are increasing the price of bread from 7½d. to 8d. a quartern loaf on Monday next; what increases have taken place in the selling price of flour since January last; and whether the decision come to by the London master bakers is within the regulations of the Food Council?
§ Dr. BURGINI have been asked to reply. I am aware of this increase in the price of bread, which is in accordance with the scale recommended by the Food Council. Under this scale the price of bread rises to 8d. per quartern loaf when the published price of standard grade flour plus the quota payment under the Wheat Act rises above 31s. per sack. The following statement gives the prices of flour in London since 1st January:
Prices of Standard Grade Flour per sack of 280 lbs. as announced by the London Flour Millers' Association.
2238W
s. d. On January 1st, 1933 … … 22 6 January 9th, 1933 … … 23 6 January 18th, 1933 … … 23 0 January 23rd, 1933 … … 22 6 February 3rd, 1933 … … 22 0 March 6th, 1933 … … 22 6 March 13th, 1933 … … 23 0 March 17th, 1933 … … 24 0 March 22nd, 1933 … … 23 0 April 3rd, 1933 … … 22 6 April 10th, 1933 … … 23 0 April 12th, 1933 … … 23 6 April 24th, 1933 … … 24 6 May 8th, 1933 … … 25 6 June 12th, 1933 … … 24 6 June 23rd, 1933 … … 2r, 0 June 26th, 1933 … … 26 0 June 28th, 1933 … … 27 6 July 12th, 1933 … … 28 6 July 19th, 1933 … … 29 6 July 21st, 1933 … … 28 6 For the purpose of calculating the price of bread in accordance with the Food Council scale there is added to the above prices the quota payment which has to be paid to the Wheat Commission by millers and importers of flour under the provisions of the Wheat Act, 1932. This payment has been constant throughout this year at 2s. 9d. per sack of 280 lbs.