asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will make a statement on what has been done to secure the necessary supplies of wheat and flour to meet our requirements for the present cereal year and what the position at the present time is; and if he will state what supplies from home-grown and imported sources are expected during the year, and to what extent it is considered they may fall short of our minimum requirements.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Supplies of Wheat and Flour
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state the total quantity and value of (a) wheat, and (b) flour imported for human consumption in this country during the year 1946; the total quantity and value of home-produced wheat used for the production of flour for human consmuption in this country for the year 1946; and whether any estimate has been made of the quantities likely to be available for the year 1947.
asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce what amount of foreign wheat will be imported this year; and if he will give an assurance that his Department is endeavouring to secure all available wheat from foreign sources.
I will take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 8 together. I propose to make a statement on the wheat and flour situation in the time which will be provided next week for discussion of this subject. On the specific questions asked by the Deputies the total quantity of wheat imported in the cereal year 1945-46 was 101,675 tons and of wheaten flour 24 cwts.; the values were £2,013,969 and £26 respectively. The total quantity of home-produced wheat used for the production of flour in flour mills, wheaten meal mills and commission mills in the same year was 350,000 tons dried and the estimated value £8,250,000 on farm. It is estimated that about 270,000 tons dried native wheat will be available this year. No estimate can be given at present of the quantities of imported wheat which will be available in the current cereal year and consequently it is impossible to state to what extent they will fall short of requirements.
The Deputies will appreciate that the quantity of wheat imported in any particular cereal year does not represent the quantity used in that year. In 1945-46 about 90,000 tons of wheat used was carried over from the cereal year 1944-45.
Can the Minister say if a suitable period of Government time will be given for the discussion of the statement?
Yes.