HC Deb 07 April 1952 vol 498 cc2260-3
8. Sir William Darling

asked the Minister of Food under what powers the Egg Marketing Board confiscate fresh eggs which are alleged to disclose blood spots.

Major Lloyd George

Under the Eggs (Great Britain) Order 1951, producers are required to send their eggs to licensed packing stations. There is no confiscation; eggs with blood spots are graded second quality and the producer paid accordingly.

13. Mr. Eric Fletcher

asked the Minister of Food what percentage of second quality English eggs in the London area were released to the public in shell form during the last two weeks in March; and what percentage were sent to breaking-out stations during the same period.

Major Lloyd George

During the fortnight ending 26th March about 35 per cent. of available supplies of second quality eggs in the London area were distributed in shell form and 65 per cent. were sent to breaking-out plants.

Mr. Fletcher

Does not the Minister appreciate that the distribution of shell eggs in the London area is not large enough, in view of the great demand?

Major Lloyd George

These eggs are going into food. This is of vital importance to food manufacturers, especially in view of the fact that so many other sources have been completely cut off.

Sir Herbert Williams

May I ask the Minister to tell us what is a "breaking-out station"? Is it something to do with a Borstal Institution?

Mr. Archer Baldwin

Is my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that it is much better to send second-quality eggs to the breaking-out stations rather than to sell them to the public in shell form?

14. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Food whether, in view of the continued shortage of eggs, he will release all available English eggs from the London area during April for the public in shell form.

Major Lloyd George

No, Sir. Some first quality eggs will be stored for later issue to the public in shell and a proportion of the second quality eggs will be broken out into liquid for allocation to the bakery trade.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the Minister bear in mind the answer he gave me two or three weeks ago, that only 20 per cent. of the eggs in shell form would be sent to breaking-out stations? Will he see that the percentage is not exceeded in the London area?

Major Lloyd George

It will not be exceeded, but it will vary from time to time according to the availability of eggs.

Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton

Would not it be better to increase the allocation to bakers and confectioners by leaving them H eggs for liquid use rather than to sell H eggs to the public?

15. Mr. E. Fletcher

asked the Minister of Food what offers have been received from Denmark to supply frozen eggs; and what is his policy with regard thereto.

Major Lloyd George

No offers have been received this year.

Mr. Fletcher

Would the Minister agree, on the principle that it is better to get frozen Danish eggs, to allow the British public to have British eggs?

Major Lloyd George

As I told the hon. Gentleman earlier, the main source of supply pre-war for liquid eggs was China and certainly not Denmark. This year we have had no offers from Denmark.

20. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Minister of Food whether he will ensure that infertile eggs removed from incubators should be sold only in liquid form to commercial users.

Major Lloyd George

This requirement was abolished in 1950 by my predecessor. On present information I am not convinced that re-imposition would be justified.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that larger profits are being made from the sale of these eggs than from the sale of category 1 eggs and that, therefore, it is more lucrative to sell the good category 1 eggs off the ration, even at the cost of disguising them as H eggs, for the purpose of evading the Regulations? Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman appreciate that this is a serious abuse, and will he do something about it?

Major Lloyd George

I am prepared to go into a question of that sort. The fact remains that the purchaser must have certain responsibilities, because the eggs are marked. If the purchaser pays a bigger price for an egg marked H than for a grade 1 egg, then I am afraid that it is his own fault.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Does the Minister appreciate that some of these so-called H eggs do not bear the stamp "H," and that they have been sold from barrows in the West End without the H mark?

Major Lloyd George

That is an offence under the Act, for which people can be prosecuted.

Sir Ralph Glyn

Will the Minister consider reverting to the pre-war practice, when infertile eggs were destroyed after nine days and not used for human consumption?

Major Lloyd George

I do not think that that is quite correct. Before the war these H eggs were used mostly for pig food.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment.