§ 13. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food what offers of eggs from the Gambia, produced under the Colonial Development Corporation's Scheme, his Department has received; and what purchases it has made.
§ Mr. WebbThe development of this project is in an early stage and no business has yet been concluded.
§ Mr. HurdDoes not the Minister think this very disappointing, as we have been running the poultry farm in the Gambia now for over 12 months? Should we not now be getting eggs?
§ 14. Mr. Higgsasked the Minister of Food why he continues to spend dollars on the purchase of large quantities of dried eggs from the United States of America; and whether he will give an estimate of the date by which he anticipates that it will be possible to provide sufficient regular supplies of shell eggs in this country to meet all normal requirements.
17. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Minister of Food why a large quantity of dried egg has been or is about to be purchased from the United States of America, in view of the fact that dollars could be better spent on the purchase of stock feedingstuffs so that the eggs can be produced at home.
§ Mr. WebbSome manufacturing and other trades need to have their eggs in the dried form and not in shell, and at present they are getting only half of what they had before the war. We should be unable even to maintain this rate of supply but for these American dried eggs. Last September, the United States Government agreed that part of our Canadian Wheat Purchases to the value of $175 million should be financed from E.C.A. funds; at the same time, we agreed to buy, among other things, from $8–10 million worth of United States perishable agricultural commodities. Our purchase of dried egg is part of this transaction.
§ Mr. HiggsDoes not the Minister think the money might have been better spent on something more tasty, or even upon timber for houses?
Mr. De la BèreIs it not a fact that the bulk of this dried egg has been manufactured for some years? Is it not a further fact that it compares very unfavourably with home produced fresh eggs that give value to the people of this country? May I have an answer?
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanIs my right hon. Friend aware that when his predecessor stopped the purchase of dried eggs he was pressed by the Opposition to resume it?
§ 31. Mr. Hollisasked the Minister of Food what sum of money, provided out of the funds of the Economic Co-operation Administration, has been spent, or it is proposed to spend, during this year on the purchase of dried eggs from the United States.
§ Mr. HollisIs the Minister aware of the recent statement of the Minister of Agriculture, that it would be very unwise for us to become dependent on special funds for the purchase of foodstuffs? Why does not the same principle apply to eggs?