HC Deb 07 March 1978 vol 945 c614W
Mr. Body

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which regulations of the EEC now govern baking tests for cereals; and whether he is satisfied that the tests are the most appropriate for wheat grown in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bishop

The Council of Ministers agreed in 1976–77, in the context of a restructuring of EEC cereals prices, that breadmaking wheat should be supported at a level set by a reference price fixed for wheat of medium breadmaking quality.

Since it has not yet been able to complete the necessary work on an acceptable test of medium quality wheat—for example a "baking test"—the reference price is, as an interim measure, currently set for wheat of a minimum breadmaking quality in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1152/77. "Minimum quality" is determined by a test of the properties of the dough produced from a sample of grain in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1155/77.

This test, which was designed as a general test of minimum quality for intervention purposes rather than of specific suitability for particular types of bread, is appropriate to wheat grown anywhere in the Community.