§ Mr. Leachasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that bread, cakes and Christmas puddings, made of the white flour now being issued to bakers and the public, can only be kept for a very few days; and whether he can explain why some of the bread made with this flour has turned green when kept for a few days?
Major Lloyd GeorgeNo information of the circumstances mentioned in the Question has reached the Ministry. I shall be pleased to investigate any incident of the kind if my hon. Friend will supply me with full details.
§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether any firms, other than Roche Products, Limited, have been approached to supply synthetic vitamin B1, for the Government fortified loaf; and to what extent this monopoly of manufacture continuously enjoyed by a single firm, restricts the supply of the fortified loaf which, 18 months after its general provision was promised, remains available for less than 25 per cent. of the population?
Major Lloyd GeorgeAs regards the first part of my hon. Friend's Question46W I would refer him to the second part of my reply to his Question of 30th September, 1941, and to the statement in my reply to his Question of 20th November, 1940, which was circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 21st January, 1941. Since that date it has been decided that two new factories shall be acquired, equipped and financed by the Ministry for the manufacture of aneurin for fortifying white flour. Arrangements are proceeding as rapidly as present conditions permit for the production of synthetic vitamin B1 at these two factories, but it is not expected that they will be in production for 18 months. In the meantime supplies are being received from the United States as well as from the company which is manufacturing in this country. The second part of my hon. Friend's Question does not therefore arise. My hon. Friend may be interested to note that the scheme for the fortification of white flour with vitamin B1 will be extended to the North-West area next week and the result of this extension will be that approximately 50 per cent. of white flour consumed in the United Kingdom will be fortified.
§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will inquire into the case of Mr. Maurice Wood, of Huby, near Leeds, chairman of the Wharfedale Farmers' Union, who has been informed by the home-grown cereals division of the Ministry of Food that, although he is an approved buyer, he will no longer be allowed, under the Home-Grown Control and Prices Order, 1941, to use wheat of his own growing in his own flourmill which produced a wholemeal flour widely consumed in his district, but must obtain a special licence for which he applied on 6th December but which he has not as yet received; and whether he will state the date and the authority on which this Order was issued?
Major' Lloyd GeorgeA licence under the Home Grown Wheat (Control and Prices) Order, 1941, authorising Mr. E. Maurice Wood of Huby, near Leeds to use, in the manufacture of flour in his own mill, wheat of his own growing, was issued to him on the 1st January, 1942.