§ 25 and 26. Mr. Eric Fletcherasked the Minister of Food (1) what arrangements have been made with owners of egg-breaking-up plants to supply them with quantities of English eggs for breaking up during the summer months;
(2) what is his policy in regard to making available for the public all English shell eggs before allowing any to be broken up for sale in liquid form.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeAll shell eggs suitable for allocation are made available in that form. About 4 per cent. of home-produced eggs are graded "second quality" and are sold "off allocation." From March to August about one-fifth of this year's total production of second quality eggs will be broken out and frozen.
§ Mr. E. FletcherIs not the Minister aware that this is a perfect scandal and that as long as there is a public demand for English shell eggs, no English shell egg ought to be sent for breaking up, particularly in these days of food shortage? Will he reconsider this policy?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not know where the scandal arises, for even if they are broken up they are used for food. A second quality egg is not a good quality egg. [HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."] It is graded second quality because of certain defects, and in the summer months it deteriorates very rapidly. In any case, every one of these broken-up eggs goes into food.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Marcus LiptonWill the Minister assure us that eggs that fail to hatch out in the incubators are sent to breaking-up plants and are not retailed off the ration to the public?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThat is a different kind of egg. For the public safeguard there is an "H" marked on the side of the egg.
§ Mr. E. FletcherIn view of the very unsatisfactory reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this important matter on the Adjournment.
§ 29. Mr. W. F. Deedesasked the Minister of Food what is the estimated percentage of eggs rejected at packing stations because of blood spots; and how they are disposed of.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeEggs with blood spots are not rejected at packing stations, but are graded as second quality and sold as such off allocation.
§ Mr. DeedesIs my right hon. and gallant Friend satisfied that there is no undue wastage in the rejection of these eggs which are suitable for consumption?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not think the proportion is very high because the total of this grade of egg collected is not very high in proportion to the number of first-grade eggs collected.