asked the Minister of Food what quantity of white flour has been imported during the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available; and from what countries.

The quantity of flour imported during the 12 months ended 28th February, 1949, was 783,411 tons mainly from Australia and Canada.

Could the Minister state the purpose of this importation of white flour?

Yes, the flour is imported to make bread.

White bread?

Would it not have been possible—I ask for information—to have imported this as whole grain so that we could have got the offal for feedingstuffs?

That is true. We much prefer to import the highest possible proportion of wheat but it is necessary to take some proportion of flour, as we always did before the war.