HC Deb 28 June 1932 vol 267 c1616
1. Mr. THOMAS COOK

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of foreign eggs purchased for consumption by His Majesty's Forces during the past six months?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)

As regards the purchase of eggs by the Department, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on 23rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for South Portsmouth (Sir H. Cayzer). As regards the purchase of eggs by the troops and their families through the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, I am informed that the number of foreign eggs purchased at the institutes of all three Services at home stations amounted to 170,000 dozen during the last six months.

Mr. COOK

Is preferential treatment always given to British egg producers?

Mr. COOPER

The duty of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes is to provide purchasers with the eggs they wish to buy, and it is in carrying out this duty that they provide these eggs.