asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce if he will state on what basis of wheat prices the flour supplied to biscuit manufacturers is costed and charged to them.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Flour for Biscuit Manufacturers.
The price at which flour is charged to biscuit manufacturers is a matter for negotiation on a competitive basis between such manufacturers and the millers from whom the flour is purchased. As I explained in reply to the Deputy's question on 15th April last, wheat for the production of biscuit flour is issued to millers at the animal feed price on the basis of one barrel of wheat for each sack of flour supplied to a biscuit manufacturer. The animal feed price for this purpose is taken to be £24 a ton on the mill floor. The balance of the grist is issued to millers at the full, average, economic price of £37 12s. a ton.
Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how he arrives at the figure of £24 per ton on the mill floor, in view of the fact that I understood the Minister for Agriculture to say that he was issuing the wheat at £23 per ton for animal feed?
The price at which the wheat is available to the miller is £24 per ton, not £23 per ton. I presume that there might be a reason for it, if there is a difference of £1 per ton. If the Deputy will put down a question, we shall get that information for him.