§ Sir E. Graham-Littleasked the Minister of Food whether he will make a statement on the importation of Australian flour into this country; and why it is not intended to import the high quality flour.
§ Mr. StracheyThe bulk of Australia's exportable surplus of flour since the last wheat crop was harvested at the end of 1946 has been required to meet the needs of our Far Eastern Colonies and other territories in South-East Asia where flour has now to be used because of the deficiency in rice which is the staple diet. It was, however, found possible to ship several cargoes of Australian flour to the United Kingdom during the early part of 1947. As is done in the case of flour imported from Canada, the Australian flour is mixed in with our home produced national flour, the extraction rate of which is 85 per cent. compared with 70 per cent. for the Australian. It is intended that a large quantity of flour (as well as wheat) shall be purchased for shipment when the new Australian crop, due to be harvested at the end of this year, is available. This flour will also be applied 257W primarily to meeting the requirements of the rice-deficiency territories. If, however, there proves to be more than is needed for this purpose it will be brought to the United Kingdom.