asked the Minister for Agriculture (a) whether he intends to discontinue payment of the subsidy in respect of wholemeal flour, which is an important source of vitamin B and therefore a valuable form of food; (b) whether it is a fact that the saving which would be effected by the withdrawal of the subsidy would be infinitesimal since in such an event persons who now use wholemeal flour would be likely to purchase subsidised flour instead; and (c) whether, in view of this, and of the unemployment and hardship which would be caused in rural areas to small-scale millers and their employees by the withdrawal, he will consult with the Minister for Industry and Commerce before coming to a final decision in the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wholemeal Flour Subsidy.
The answer to the Deputy's question is as follows:—
(a) Yes. I do not believe that wholemeal flour has the unqualified approval of health authorities as the best source of the vitamin referred to, and it has been clearly established that for children its dietetic value is materially qualified by its content of phytic acid, the effect of which on calcium metabolism is not insignificant. The Deputy will recall that the Government policy in respect of bread and flour subsidy is to ascertain what flour extraction constitutes the best flour from a dietetic point of view and to guarantee to everybody a sufficient ration of that flour or bread at the subsidised price, leaving everybody free to purchase flour of a lower or higher extraction as they may wish on the same basis as confectionery is available—that is, at the economic price;
(b) inasmuch as there is good reason to believe that a substantial part of the total production of wheatenmeal is being used for animal feeding, the withdrawal of the subsidy is calculated to relieve the total charge for bread and flour subsidy by from £80,000 to £100,000 per annum, a sum to which I cannot agree the adjective "infinitesimal" is appropriately applied;
(c) withdrawal of the subsidy will not be made until satisfactory arrangements have been completed to ensure that no worker at present employed in any of the mills to which the Deputy refers will lose his employment.
If the interests concerned will cooperate with me in securing this important relief on the Food Subsidy Vote, I confidently anticipate that whatever reduction in total output of wheatenmeal may come about will be more than compensated for by alternative work of an economic character which can be made available to take the place of the wheatenmeal milling, in the shape of wheat assembling, maize and compound feed manufacture, milling on commission, and other cereal assembly work, which it is intended to orient to these mills so that the proprietors may suffer no loss and the workers no suspension of their employment permanent or temporary.