§ 72. Captain PLUGGEasked the Minister of Agriculture the present position of the conflicting schemes for the better regulation of the egg market; and what is the attitude of his Department towards any or all of them.
§ Mr. W. S. MORRISONLast summer the county branches of the National Farmers' Union decided, by a small majority, against the formal submission of a draft egg marketing scheme which had been prepared by a joint Committee of the National Farmers' Union and the National Poultry Council. This scheme is understood to have been based on the recommendations of the Reorganisation Commission for Eggs and Poultry. 1917 Schemes of a different character have been advocated in various quarters, but none of these has been submitted to me. As regards the second part of the Question, I am prepared to consider any scheme submitted to me.
§ Mr. R. ACLANDWill the right hon. Gentleman make it clear that there will not be any duty on foreign eggs until some scheme has been made effective for marketing?
§ Mr. MORRISONThere is a duty on eggs at the present moment, and any variation of that duty is a, matter for the Import Duties Advisory Committee.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWhy should the poultry industry be blackmailed into voting for a scheme by threats made that they will not get a proper duty?