§ 31. Mr. Simmondsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the present policy of his Department is making the production of eggs unremunerative; and what steps he is taking to alter this?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)No, Sir. The maximum prices for home-produced eggs are regarded as generally remunerative for producers, but it is recognised that poultry keepers who are dependent on purchased feeding-stuffs will have to reduce their flocks very considerably below pre-war level owing to the shortage of supplies of feeding-stuffs.
§ Mr. SimmondsOn the other hand, is it not regarded by many poultry keepers that the present prices they may charge are unremunerative, and is it not exceedingly important that the Ministry of Food should encourage eggs on to the market and make the keeping of poultry remunerative, particularly to those who can use swill and not other feeding-stuffs?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe price that has been fixed for eggs has been based on the increased costs which poultry have incurred, taking into consideration the average of the last three years before the war.
§ Mr. SimmondsWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman watch the availability of these eggs and see whether in fact his policy is keeping eggs on the market?