Shell Eggs

HC Deb 04 December 1950 vol 482 cc10-2

27. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Food why he will not increase the existing shell-egg ration.

Mr. Webb

Mainly, I fear, because of the habits of the hen. Home production of eggs is always lowest at this time of year and so are imports, since most of them come from countries in the Northern Hemisphere. If the hon. Member has any ingenious idea for overcoming this unfortunate tendency in hens, I—and the poultry industry—would be delighted to hear about it.

Mr. Nabarro

Is the Minister aware that many Western European soft currency countries have a considerable exportable surplus of shell eggs, and what is he doing to avail himself of it? In particular, what is he doing about the Irish, who promised to drench us with eggs?

Mr. Webb

We are doing a great deal more than the hon. Member thinks.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is it not a fact that, despite or because of the provocation of the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Nabarro), the hen populations of this and other countries of the Northern Hemisphere are, at the moment, showing considerable restraint?

Mr. Webb

That is so.

Mr. David Renton

Is the Minister aware that the egg-laying habits of hens are formed mainly by man, and that he, among all men, is more responsible for those habits than any other man in this country?

Mr. Webb

I think we are plumbing dangerous depths here. All I can say is that I would not take any responsibility for what any hen does.

28. Mr. Nabarro

asked the Minister of Food what special steps he is taking to make available to housewives for laying down, during the spring-flush season of 1951, any surplus of shell-eggs; and whether he will assure that no such surplus is allowed to go bad in the course of distribution, as took place during the spring-flush of 1950.

Mr. Webb

In the spring of 1950 we authorised retailers to sell eggs freely to domestic consumers and we propose to do the same thing in the spring of 1951. Many people bought eggs for preserving last spring and no doubt will do so again next spring. In reply to the last part of the Question, I can only invite the hon. Member once more to produce evidence in support of his charge—and if he cannot to have the goodness to cease repeating it.

Mr. Nabarro

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that many branches of the National Farmers' Union and innumerable other bodies have complained about the long delays between the date of collection of eggs and the date of their delivery to the consumer? Will he consult these people, and establish the truth?