3. Major NEWMANasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the Board of Trade or other Government Department is still the only importer of foreign 3166 eggs into this country; whether the distribution of the eggs has been placed largely in the hands of foreign firms and British firms excluded; whether he is aware that, among the number for such foreign firms, the following are included: Danish Import Company, Harry Shacke, Vilh Tange, E. C. Host, S. V. Rutyan, A. Delcomyn, Œtyes and Gerritsen, Zwanenberg, all Danish or Dutch firms, whereas the British firm of G. E. Ayscough has only been given, since 1st October, twenty-five cases to sell, while, in a similar period last year, they had imported over 400 cases, the distribution of which has this year been given to their foreign competitors?
§ Mr. PARKER (Lord of the Treasury)I have been asked to reply. The Ministry of Food are at present the only importers of foreign eggs in this country. The distribution of egg supplies is controlled by an advisory committee consisting of four Englishmen and one Scotsman, and eggs are in all cases allocated on a percentage basis corresponding with the amount of sales in previous years.
§ Mr. PARKERThe egg importation trade has always been chiefly in the hands of foreign firms. No British firms have been excluded, though one received no allocation because it omitted to furnish the application.