§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Food what is the amount of the present subsidy in respect of bread; at what date and on what scientific advice, as distinguished from advice given to him by his Departmental trade committees, was the wheat extraction for the national loaf reduced to 80 per cent.; and whether he will in future furnish in advance to the public details of changes in the composition of that loaf.
§ Colonel LlewellinIn regard to the first part of the Question, the amount of subsidy paid to bakers of bread as part of the policy of stabilising the cost of living is between £7,000,000 and £7,500,000 per annum at the present rates. As regards the second part of the Question, the extraction of national flour from wheat was reduced to 80 per cent. on 31st December last, though it was considerably later before flour of this new rate was used generally in the national loaf. The Chief Medical Adviser to the Ministry of Health and the Chief Scientific Adviser to my Department were consulted, and the Secretary of the Medical Research Council was also brought into the discussions which 409W led to the decision to make this alteration. As regards the last part of the Question, it has always been the practice to announce major changes in the national loaf and to impress on the public that owing to the stocks of flour which have to be held such changes can only become effective gradually. As far as I am concerned this practice will be continued.