asked the Minister for Supplies whether the flour mills situated within or adjacent to the wheat-growing areas are working full time and, if not, whether he will consider the advisability of having home-grown wheat milled in the nearest local mills with a view to (a) conserving transport, and (b) eliminating waste in production, handling, transportation and fuel.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Milling of Home-grown Wheat.
The capacity of all the flour mills in the country is greater than the total demand and at no period have the mills worked to full capacity. The quota of each mill is fixed, having regard to the quantity of flour required in the country and its individual capacity. Any departure from this arrangement would interfere very seriously with the economy of the milling industry, employment and the present distribution arrangements for flour. I do not propose to adopt the suggestion made by the Deputy.
Will the Minister say whether the quota allocated to each mill is rigidly observed by each mill?
That is a separate question.