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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 10 Apr 1940

Vol. 79 No. 10

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Bran and Pollard.

asked the Minister for Supplies whether he is aware that the price of bran and pollard has been advanced by £2 per ton, and whether in view of this increase he will state what steps he proposes to take.

I am aware that the price of bran and pollard was increased by £2 per ton recently, and am satisfied that this increase was justified having regard to the increased costs of imported wheat.

Is the Minister aware that although the price of flour in this country is now substantially in excess of the price of flour in Great Britain the millers have been permitted to increase the price of wheaten offals also to provide them with additional profit?

The amount of subsidy paid on flour in Great Britain has nothing whatever to do with the price of offals here.

Is the Minister aware that although the price of flour here is more than twice the price in Great Britain, the millers have got permission to increase the price of wheaten offals by £2 a ton?

The Deputy should be aware that the price of flour in Great Britain is heavily subsidised by the British Government. There is, therefore, no point in his remark with reference to the price of flour in relation to the price of offals. The increase in the price of offals here followed an increase in the price of imported wheat and was fully justified.

Is the Minister of opinion that the price of flour entitled the millers to expect not only an excess price for the flour but also an excess price for wheaten offals derived from by-products in the manufacture of flour?

I am satisfied that the price is eminently reasonable in all the circumstances.

Did the Minister consult the consumers before he adopted that view?

From the point of view of the consumer I think it is desirable that there should be no great disparity between the price of maize offals and maize meal. The disparity that existed before the recent increase was caused by the demand for wheaten offals being far in excess of the supply. In the ordinary course there is a certain relation between one commodity and the other, and that relation, I think, will have to be maintained. I may say that the price of wheaten offals in this country is now substantially lower than the price at which we could import them.

Did the Minister require any independent firm of costing accountants to examine the costings of the millers before he authorised a price for flour twice as great as that obtaining in England, and an increase of £2 per ton on wheaten offals?

I did not authorise a price for flour twice that obtaining in Great Britain. The increase in the price of flour was agreed to by me following an examination by officers of my Department, who are fully competent to carry out such examination.

Was there any examination by independent costing accountants before the increased cost was authorised?

No unreasonable price was authorised.

Was there any independent examination?

An examination was carried out by the officers of my Department.

Was it by costing accountants?

By officers of my Department.

Did the Minister have independent costings accountants?

No. The officers of my Department did the work.

The other fellows had costings accountants.

The officers of my Department are completely independent of the millers.

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