asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce the percentages of native and foreign wheat used in bread in the cereal year 1959-60, and the percentages which will be used in bread for the cereal year 1960-61.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bread Percentages of Native and Foreign Wheat.
33.
Returns furnished to my Department by the licensed flour millers indicate that approximately 57½ per cent. of the wheat milled by them in 1959-60 was home grown wheat.
In regard to 1960-61 it is not possible at this stage to say what percentage of the wheat milled by the flour millers will be home grown wheat. The millers are required to use 300,000 tons of home grown wheat if it is available. If flour output is maintained at the same level as last year this 300,000 tons would represent about 78 per cent. of the total user, but if less than 300,000 tons of millable native wheat is available or if the level of flour consumption changes this percentage will also change.
If in fact it is not possible to get from Irish wheat sufficient wheat of a millable character to produce the target grist envisaged by the Minister, is it proposed to review the price of bread and flour by reason of the fact that a cheaper wheat, namely, an imported wheat, will be used in the grist because of the shortage of millable wheat of Irish origin?
That seems to be a separate question.
Perhaps the Deputy had better address that question to the Minister for Agriculture. However, he will remember that that Minister made an arrangement with the mills that in the event of 300,000 tons of native wheat not being millable, they would use imported wheat to make up the difference and the same price would be charged for the wheat to the mills. The Grain Board would be empowered then to dispose of any surplus for feeding.
I take it that the increased price of wheat and flour is justified or was sought to be justified on the basis that a higher quantity of the native wheat would be used in the grist for 1960/61. The Minister for Industry and Commerce, being concerned with prices, is aware of that fact. If it now turns out that there is not sufficient Irish millable wheat to reach the target grist, which would justify the higher price of bread and flour, will the Minister for Industry and Commerce concerned with prices endeavour to ensure that the matter of the present high prices is reviewed since the justification for them will have been removed?
That arrangement made with the Minister for Agriculture was made with my agreement and that arrangement requires the mills to pay for any slack in native wheat the same price for imported wheat as they would have to pay for native wheat. That will not allow of any reduction in the price of flour.
Is the Minister aware that when the percentage of Irish wheat was increased from 70 to 80 per cent. the price of household flour was increased by 5/9d. and the price of bakers' flour by 7/8d.? With the recent change in the grist from 80 per cent. Irish to 60 per cent., instead of the price of household flour being reduced by 11/6d. per sack and the price of bakers' flour by 15/6d. per sack there has been no reduction.
That is an argument rather than a question.
It is not an argument.
The only change in the price of wheat of which I am aware is the reduction of 4/6d. a barrel represented by the levy. How then can the price of domestic wheat be quoted as the reason for a further increase in the price of bread by ½d. in the 2 lb. loaf? We know the first 5½d. in the increase is due to the abolition of the food subsidies but there now has been another ½d. on the 2 lb. loaf, making a total increase of 6d. at a time when the domestic price of wheat has actually gone down.
The Deputy is making a speech.
I am asking the Minister a question.
The amount of native wheat used by the licensed flour millers last year was 221,204 tons. As I have said in reply to the Question, that represents 57½ per cent. native wheat in the grist. The amount of native wheat the millers will be required to take this year is 300,000 tons and, based on the present consumption of bread, that 300,000 tons will represent 78 per cent. of the grist. That is the reason for the increase in the price of bread.
That has no bearing on the present price. The price was increased for an increase in the grist.
I have called No. 34.
This is a very important matter.
Why was there less Irish wheat used after the best harvest we ever had last year?
Would the price have anything to do with it?
It does not make sense.
The harvest only comes in in September.
The cereal year runs from 1st August.
If it is a good harvest the price goes up, and if it is a bad harvest the price goes up.
If there is no wheat the price goes up.
When Fianna Fáil are there.