asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will inform the Dáil as to the system whereunder credits are allowed to millers in respect of the disposal by them of wheat offals and middlings, and if he has satisfied himself that the checks on the prices obtained by millers in respect of such disposals are sufficient to ensure that the balance paid millers on the twelve monthly accounting periods are only in respect of the correct amounts.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Wheat Offals.
I am not clear as to what the Deputy's question refers, but I assume that he has in mind the treatment of wheat offals in the accounts which are lodged by the flour millers for subsidy purposes. Sales of wheat offals are included in the profit and loss accounts of the millers at the statutory controlled selling price of £12 10s. per ton, less, in appropriate cases, deductions in respect of:—(a) a trade allowance at the rate of 7/6 per ton in respect of sales to wholesalers; (b) a cash discount at the rate of 4d. in the £; and (c) freight costs borne by the miller in delivering the offals to the purchaser.
The official examination of the millers' accounts covers all items, including offal sales, included in these accounts. Offal sales are, of course, taken into account in determining the amount due from or to the miller in order to maintain his profits at the permitted level, viz., 6 per cent. on capital employed.
Only 6 per cent?