asked the Minister for Industry and Commerce whether as home millers' flour is now offering to bakers at 41/- per sack and foreign flour at 39/- over next four months, he will seek an explanation from the Master Bakers for their continuing the excessive prices for the quartern loaf.

I have no information as to the prices at which either home-milled or imported flour will be sold to Saorstát Master Bakers during the next four months, but understand that the price for Irish flour at the moment is 42/6 per sack ex mill. The position does not appear to have altered appreciably since I answered a question by the Deputy on 27th June, but if the circumstances regarded by the Food Prices Tribunal as justifying reductions in price operate for any substantial period I will invite an explanation of their position from the Master Bakers.