asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reasons for the recent reduction by him from 75 per cent to 59 per cent of the proportion of the wheat milling quota of licensed millers which must consist of home grown wheat.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Wheat Milling Quota.
24.
To comply with the provisions of the Agricultural Produce (Cereals) Act, 1935 an order was made by me on 14th December, 1970, fixing 75 per cent as the percentage of the milling quotas which flour millers were required to mill in the form of home-grown wheat in the cereal year commencing on 1st September, 1971. In accordance with the usual practice this percentage was reduced by order made by me on 12th June, 1972, in order to bring it into line with actual millings in the current cereal year. The use of home-grown wheat in the flour grist in the present year is at the rate of 75 per cent which represents 59 per cent of the flour milling quotas.
Could the Minister tell me if these orders are of any value in view of the fact that they are made retrospectively, on the basis of what has happened, and do not represent in any real sense a directive to the millers?
The flour milling quotas are generally a bit on the generous side in order to allow, in the first place, for an element of competition as between millers and, in the second place, naturally, to ensure that there is sufficient wheat available for flour milling. The important point as far as the wheat producers are concerned is to ensure that three-fourths of the grist consists of native wheat and that condition is being met.
Is it not the case that that figure of three-fourths has now been reduced?
No, it is not the case. The 59 per cent refers to the relationship between the wheat being milled and the milling quota, which is a great deal higher than the actual requirement.
Will these orders continue to be capable of being made after we join the EEC?
I think we will still need to regulate the quantity of native wheat that is contained in the grist.
Will we be able to do that?
I do not know. I would require notice of that question.