22. Mr. De Ia Bèreasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why no suitable plan was thought out 18 months ago to meet, in the event of war, an inevitable shortage of European and Asiatic imported eggs by importing increased supplies of feeding-stuffs, and, with them, increasing home poultry breeding?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Mr. Boothby)I cannot accept the suggestion that 18 months ago a shortage of European eggs should have been regarded as inevitable, and there has been no shortage of Asiatic eggs, imports of which have increased since the outbreak of war.
Mr. De la BèreI wish only to prevent a recurrence of this. Will my hon. Friend use every endeavour to see that feeding-stuffs are available for small poultry keepers? Is he aware that it takes more than an air raid to put me off this subject?
§ Mr. BoothbyI am well aware of that.