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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 May 1950

Vol. 121 No. 3

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Purchases of Flour.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether arrangements have been made for the purchase of flour in United States of America; and, if so, (a) the quantity; (b) the firm or firms through which purchase is being effected; (c) the quality of the flour; (d) the c.i.f. cost; (e) the proposed method of utilisation; (f) the proposed retail price, and (g) whether the flour is being purchased under European Recovery Programme, and, if so, whether any conditions have been attached by the United States of America authorities.

As a result of our acceptance of Marshall Aid funds on a grant basis, we are obliged to purchase in the form of flour a proportion of our purchases of wheat from the United States. The proportion may be varied from time to time by the Economic Co-operation Administration.

To meet this requirement of the United States Congress, Grain Importers (Eire), Limited, have to date purchased 1,126 tons of bakers' flour and 1,000 tons of household flour, the c.i.f. cost being approximately £39 11s. 0d. per ton in the case of the bakers' flour and approximately £34 2s. 0d. per ton in the case of the household flour. Further purchases will depend on the quantities notified to us by the Economic Co-operation Administration. We have already been informed that we will be obliged to purchase further quantities totalling, roughly, 1,500 tons.

The flour purchased, which is of the highest quality obtainable in the circumstances, is of approximately 72 per cent. extraction. It will be sold through the normal trade channels on the same terms as those for home-produced flour of 75 per cent. extraction, and the retail price will be subject to the same maximum of 7/- per stone.

The purchase of the flour was subject to the usual conditions which apply to all transactions financed by the Economic Co-operation Administration and to the special shipping conditions which apply to flour.

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