HC Deb 18 December 1928 vol 223 cc2786-8
66. Mr. HANNON

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the quantities and values of Chinese eggs in the shell and in the form of dried eggs or egg powder, or otherwise, which have been imported into this country annually since 1921; to what purpose these eggs have been applied; and what steps his Ministry are taking to encourage the substitution of British eggs for those imported from China?

The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Guinness)

I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement giving the statistics desired in the first part of the question. These imports are used for human consumption in some form or other, the eggs not in shell being mainly employed in the confectionery trade. In regard to the last part of the question, the draft Order in Council now before

THE QUANTITY AND DECLARED VALUE OF Eons imported into the United Kingdom* from China (exclusive of Hong Kong, Macao and leased territories) during each year from 1921–1927 were as follows:—

Eggs in Shell.
Year Quantity. Declared Value.
Great Hundreds. £
1921 … … … … … … 468,233 462,392
1922 … … … … … … 1,057,086 639,026
1923 … … … … … … 1,113,024 643,936
1924 … … … … … … 1,033,313 660,125
1925 … … … … … … 1,000,837 600,229
1926 … … … … … … 1,232,305 685,804
1927 … … … … … … 681,001 395,177

Eggs, not in Shell.
Year Liquid and Yolk. Albumen. Dried, except Albumen.
Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value. Quantity. Declared Value.
Cwts. £ Cwts. £ Cwts. £
1921 … … 437,653 3,084,842 34,026 531,187 26,609 576,202
1922 … … 399,564 1,998,394 35,068 511,709 6,549 91,295
1923 … … 455,438 2,185,958 42,360 516,823 19,027 302,116
1924 … … 473,221 2,204,075 27,504 620,697 15,407 216,202
1925 … … 554,433 2,444,415 28,064 524,323 18,579 282,530
1926 … … 664,260 2,947,460 20,144 336,887 24,686 249,188
1927 … … 628,041 2,745,486 12,999 242,659 22,917 270,915
* Great Britain and Northern Ireland since the 1st April, 1923.

Parliament requiring imported eggs in shell and dried eggs to bear an indication of origin will ensure the identification of such products in future. I am also hopeful that the steps now being taken in collaboration with my Department to improve the marketing of home-produced eggs will attract demand to the home product.

Mr. T. WILLIAMS

In the reply will the right hon. Gentleman also include the names of all the companies that import these eggs and the names of the managing director of each company?

Mr. GUINNESS

I think the hon. Member had better put that question on the Paper.

Mr. RENNIE SMITH

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what is the country of origin of the hens that lay the eggs in China?

Following is the statement: