HC Deb 24 March 1952 vol 498 c8
16. Mr. Eric Fletcher

asked the Minister of Food how many English eggs have been withdrawn from the market since 3rd March and sent to Ministry and sponsored warehouses for the purpose of breaking them out into liquid form for canning and freezing for the bakery trade.

Dr. Hill

The total for the fortnight 3rd to 15th March was 7,724 boxes of 360 second quality eggs each.

Mr. Fletcher

Does not the Minister agree that it would be much better for the public to have these eggs in shell form than to have them broken up into powder?

Dr. Hill

No, Sir. The eggs find their way to the public in this, as in other forms, and it is desirable, bearing in mind the shortage of dried egg and liquid egg for bakers' purposes, that a proportion of the second quality eggs should be prepared in this form suitable for use by the bakers.

Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton

If any eggs have to be withdrawn from the market, would the Parliamentary Secretary consider withdrawing the eggs marked H, I suppose for "horrible," because they have remained unhatched despite the most strenuous efforts on the part of poultry producers? Will he see that at least those eggs are not sold to the public?

Dr. Hill

Those eggs with evidence of infertility are receiving a great deal of attention at the present moment.

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