§ 51. Captain HEILGERSasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the representations he has received from organisations of egg and poultry producers asking for the establishment of a reorganisation commission for the egg and poultry industry, he will constitute such a commission at an early date?
§ Major ELLIOTAs my hon. and gallant Friend may be aware, a marketing scheme has recently been submitted to me by the National Farmers Union and National Poultry Council. Neither or these organisations has asked for the appointment of a reorganisation commission, and until I have had an opportunity of considering their scheme in all its bearings, I am unable to say what further steps will be required.
§ 52. Mr. THOMAS COOKasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that consignments of Chinese eggs in shell are entering this country, to the detriment of British poultry keepers; and whether he will take action to prevent the, further importation of foreign eggs ill shell?
§ Major ELLIOTI am aware that eggs in shell are being imported from China as well as from other foreign countries, and I would remind my hon. Friend that 507 a duty ranging from 1s. to 1s. 9d. per great hundred is imposed on such eggs. I have no rower to take the action suggested in the last part of the question.
§ 62. Captain HEILGERSasked the President of the Board of Trade whether the importation of eggs from Australia has been above the normal during the last three months?
§ Dr. BURGINImports of eggs in shell registered during the three months September to November as consigned from Australia amounted to 897,194 great hundreds, as compared with 461,736 and 324,274 great hundreds, respectively, in the corresponding periods of 1931 and 1930.
Captain HEILGE RSCan the hon. Gentleman state the reason for the increase, and whether he knows if it is likely to continue?