Eggs (Hansard, 22 February 1954)

HC Deb 22 February 1954 vol 524 cc23-4 23

§ 42. Mrs. Castle
asked the Minister of Food what, in million dozens, was the quantity of eggs passing through the United Kingdom packing stations for each month in 1953, and in January, 1954; and the monthly import figures for the same period.

§ Major Lloyd George
As the reply involves a large number of figures I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

§ Mrs. Castle
Would the Minister give me the figures for December, 1953, and January, 1954?

§ Major Lloyd George
The figures for December, 1953, were: through the United Kingdom packing stations 40.2 million dozen, imports 19.9 million dozen; and the January, 1954, figures were, 49.4 million dozen through the packing stations and 11.2 million dozen imported.

§ Following is the answer:

HEN EGGS—U.K. PACKING STATIONS THROUGHPUTS AND IMPORTS, 1953 AND JANUARY, 1954
Month	No. of weeks	Millions of dozens
U.K. packing stations throughput	U.K. imports	Imported eggs sold in Shell
1953
January	5	41.6	18.4	18.4
February	4	39.2	11.0	11.0
March	4	41.0	10.9	10.9
April	5	57.0	7.3	5.3
May	4	39.6	12.0	10.0
June	4	32.3	9.2	10.8
July	5	32.1	10.8	9.1
August	4	23.6	6.8	8.9
September	4	25.7	8.2	6.6
October	5	29.9	14.1	14.3
November	4	24.2	10.6	11.1
December	5	40.2	19.9	11.0
Total Year	53	426.4	139.2	127.4
1954
January	5	49.4^*	11.2^*	16.5^*
^* Provisional.

§ 43. Mr. Willey
asked the Minister of Food how many eggs have been broken out for sale in liquid form since egg prices were decontrolled.

§ Major Lloyd George
Three hundred and ten thousand boxes to the end of January.

§ Mr. Willey
Would the right hon. and gallant Gentleman tell the House how many eggs there are in a box?

§ Major Lloyd George
Three hundred and sixty, I think.

§ Colonel Gomme-Duncan
What is the difference between breaking an egg and breaking out an egg?

§ Major Lloyd George
I think that the result is sometimes the same.