§ 42. Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what action he proposes to take in view of the threat of Mr. Hammet, chairman of the Lancashire Poultry Producers War Emergency Committee, to withhold large quantities of eggs unless the maximum price is raised?
The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food (Major Lloyd George)My Noble Friend invited representatives of the committee to which my hon. Friend refers to attend at the offices of the Ministry and discuss the scheme for the control of home-produced eggs. The invitation was accepted and the interview took place last week. I am providing my hon. Friend with a copy of the statement issued at the end of the meeting.
§ Mr. ThorneNow that the question has been settled, will the Ministry of Food see to it that the eggs are properly distributed?
§ Captain StricklandIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that very large quantities of eggs are being held up in various parts of the country and are going bad, and that in other parts they cannot get eggs?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMy hon. and gallant Friend will appreciate that a scheme of this character, in the initial weeks, is difficult to administer, but I am not certain, from many reports, whether he does not exaggerate. The object of the scheme is to get a fair distribution in each district of the country.
§ Captain StricklandIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that in some cases as many as 100 cases of eggs are going bad because the eggs are not being distributed?