§ Sir W. Smilesasked the Minister of Food if he will allow shopkeepers to sell bread in slices in order to prevent a large heel being left on each loaf which is very often wasted; and if he is aware, that in the smaller loaves now to be sold there may be many more heels wasted.
Sir B. Smith: Except for the sale of sliced bread to catering establishments and institutions, the wrapping and slicing of bread by mechanical means or in specially prepared wrapping paper is prohibited by the Bread (Control and Maximum Prices) (No. 2) Order of 1943. This Order was made owing to the shortage of waxed paper and of labour, and I am afraid that until there are adequate supplies of waxed paper available, the slicing of bread before sale would only tend to increase waste. I shall review the position as soon as adequate supplies of waxed paper can be made available.
So far as the latter part of the Question is concerned, the new lighter loaves introduced this week should not be substantially less in volume than the loaves they replace. Members of the public ought not to purchase increased numbers of these lighter loaves and there should, therefore, be no reason why any greater wastage should occur.