asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the amount of the increase which has taken place in the retail price of pollard since 1st June, 1954; and if he will state by what amount per cwt. the prices of pig feeding stuffs and poultry feeding stuffs have been increased as a result thereof.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Pollard.
The retail price of wheat offals does not come within my functions.
As regards the second part of the question, the amount per cwt. by which the prices of pig feeding stuffs and poultry feeding stuffs have been increased as a result of the increase in the price of pollard depends on the proportion of pollard used in each type of feeding stuff.
The Minister is aware, of course, that there was an increase and there is an increase of around £6 10s. 0d. per ton in the price of pollard and, seeing that that increase is reflected or should be reflected in the price of pig and other animal feeding stuffs, will he not look into the matter? Would it not be of interest to him to find out what effect that has on the prices of animal feeding stuffs?
It is of intense and enduring interest to me that the prices of pollard and bran have gone up on the world markets by £3 10s. 0d. in the course of the last couple of months. Why they did God only knows, and I am sincerely hoping that they will come down again.
Will the Minister say whether the large increase in the price of pollard will mean a saving to the Exchequer in the payment of subsidy in wheat?
I have not the faintest notion. I do know that the prices of pollard and bran have gone up on the world markets very substantially. Why I do not know but I know that it is open to anybody to import all the bran and pollard they can buy, if they can get it any cheaper than the prices at present ruling in this country.
Would the Minister clarify the position that exists at the moment? The impression is there that there is a saving on the wheat subsidy through the increase in the price of pollard and that, as a result of an alleged saving in the wheat subsidy, the small farmer and small producer who is the pig feeder is now subsidising the wheat grower through his pig feeding. Would the Minister clarify that?
As a result of the activities of my predecessor, I have no longer any responsibility for wheat or flour milling. I am therefore not in a position to give the House any information on the subject of the flour subsidy. I know this, from the point of view of the producer of pigs, that the world price of pollard and bran has gone up steeply. At this moment, if anyone can buy pollard or bran cheaper anywhere in the world than the price at which it is available in Dublin, he is perfectly free to do so; and if he does so, so far as I am concerned, more power to his elbow.
Is there a saving to the Exchequer?
I could not tell you, but if you can buy bran or pollard cheaper anywhere in the world, off you pop.
Is one to go to Mincing Lane?
It is the kind of thing I would expect Fianna Fáil to do, to look for bran and pollard in Mincing Lane, but it is unlikely that this Government would do such a thing.