HC Deb 09 March 1925 vol 181 cc911-3
31. Mr. WRIGHT

asked the Minister of Agriculture what is the quantity and value of eggs imported into this country per annum, liquid, frozen, and shell, and the countries from which they come; and whether, seeing that much of the land now imperfectly cultivated could be used to provide food for poultry, will he have

QUANTITY AND VALUE of Eggs, in Shell and not in Shell, Imported into the United Kingdom* in 1923, showing Countries of Consignment.
(From "Annual Statement of Trade.")
1. Eggs in Shell.
Countries from which consigned. Quantity. Value.
Great Hundreds. £
Russia 304,252 174,014
Latvia 279,692 167,550
Lithuania 477,770 289,682
Sweden 67,360 50,043
Denmark (including Faroe Islands) 6,757,300 5,486,324
Poland (including Dantzig) 1,284,922 710,902
Germany 29,217 17,578
Netherlands 1,435,392 1,075,489
Belgium 54,788 41,311
France 1,337,724 782,771
Switzerland 13,164 9,930
Italy 415,350 307,258
Austria 6,170 4,395
Hungary 58,220 38,967
Serb-Croat-Slovene State 419,844 244,998
Rumania 25,404 15,336
Egypt 1,209,332 628,604
Morocco 208,917 138,547
China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao and leased territories) 1,113,024 643,936
United States of America 240,041 198,085
Argentine Republic 263,524 219,050
Other Foreign Countries 63,795 47,736
Total from Foreign Countries 16,066,202 11,292,506
Irish Free State† 3,345,417 1,963,590
Cape of Good Hope 126,866 119,487
Australia 112,818 101,887
Canada 377,759 323,569
Other British Possessions 17,881 15,857
Total from British Possessions 3,980,741 2,524,390
Total 20,045,943 13,816,896
*From 1st April, 1923, these figures include the trade of Great Britain and Northern Ireland with the Irish Free State, and exclude the direct foreign trade of the Irish Free State.
†Nine months only.

inquiry made into the possibilities of egg production in this country?

Mr. WOOD

I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the figures for which the hon. Member asks in the first part of his question. I am well aware that there are great opportunities for the increase of egg production in this country, and both the Ministry and the leaders of the poultry industry, who are in close touch through the Ministry's Poultry Advisory Committee and otherwise, are constantly considering methods of assisting the industry to take advantage of them.

Following is the statement:

2. Eggs not in Shell.
Countries from which consigned. Liquid and Yolk. Albumen. Dried.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Cwts. £
France ‡ ‡ 301 5,907 ‡ ‡
China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao and leased territories). 455,438 2,185,958 42,360 516,823 19,027 302,116
United States of America 4,284 23,445 684 15,165 49 933
Other Foreign Countries 4,079 17,419 1,289 15,820 646 2,251
Total from Foreign Countries 463,801 2,226,822 44,634 553,715 19,722 305,300
Hong Kong 642 2,573 § § — —
Australia 41 244 § § § §
Other British Possessions 391 2,058 422 8,178 7 19
Total from British Possessions 1,074 4,875 422 8,178 7 19
Total 464,875 2,231,697 45,056 561,893 19,729 305,319
‡Included (if any) under "Other Foreign Countries."
§Included (if any) under "Other British Possessions."