asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the retail price of bran at present and in December, 1950, and also the extent to which it has been improved in feeding value.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bran and Pollard Retail Prices.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the retail price of pollard at present and in December, 1950, and also the extent to which it has been improved in food value.
With the permission of the Leas-Cheann Comhairle I propose to answer Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together.
The maximum retail price for bran and pollard in December, 1950, was 14/- per cwt. when sold in quantities of 1 cwt. or over and 1/10 per stone when sold in quantities of less than 1 cwt. The official control on the retail price of bran and pollard was removed as from 14th February, 1951, and flour millers have been authorised to sell 1 cwt. lots at 30/- per cwt. carriage paid to the purchaser's nearest railway station.
The quality of the bran produced is unchanged. The feeding quality of the new white pollard is considerably improved by reason of its lower fibre content and higher starch content as compared with the old pollard.
Can the Minister explain why the price of bran has increased by almost 100 per cent. if the quality remains unchanged?
Because there was not enough bran and pollard to supply the retail customers with the flour ration per head, with the result that a very microscopic minority of persons got enough and the vast majority got none at all. It was, therefore, decided to make available to everybody supplies of white pollard in proportion to their requirements, whatever they might be, and that we have succeeded in doing. The price of bran, inasmuch as it is a byproduct of the flour milling industry, is fixed more in regard to the world price than in regard to any previous domestic price. The price of imported bran to-day is higher than the price fixed for the domestic product. In so far as that is true, bran is still in some degree subsidised for Irish farmers through the flour subsidy.
So that it is cheaper at 30/- than at 14/-!
How does the Minister think he is going to increase pig production by reducing the price of pigs and at the same time increasing the price of feeding stuffs?
I sympathise with the Deputy's bewilderment, though I fear he will be further bewildered as time goes on.
Will the Minister inform the House how he squares his answer to Deputy Cogan's supplementary with his denial that there is any subsidy given to the wheat feed that was being made available for cattle?
I was talking about bran.
Which is from wheat and also white pollard.
No. I suggest to the Deputy that he should check up with his colleague, Deputy Smith. Little and all as he knows about it, Deputy Aiken knows less. There is a distinction between wheat feed and bran. I have no doubt that Deputy Smith will take Deputy Aiken aside and whisper it in his ear if Deputy Aiken will open his ear.
Is not this pollard wheat feed wrong?
No.
And it is being subsidised out of the human food subsidy.
No.