§ 55. Mr. Willeyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now review his policy of spreading the sale of stocks of frozen egg over a prolonged period.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. G. R. H. Nugent)The rate of disposal of the Ministry-owned stock of frozen egg is frequently adjusted to 1339 take account of current circumstances. Substantial adjustments in selling prices have recently been made.
§ Mr. WilleyWould the Joint Parliamentary Secretary please answer the Question? I am aware that his Department made special arrangements to spread the disposal of these stocks over a long period. In view of the liability to food poisoning from these stocks, will he assure the House that he is reversing his policy and disposing of the stocks more expeditiously?
§ Mr. NugentThe liability to food poisoning does not arise from the length of the storage period. Storage is quite safe up to three or four years. The food poisoning which occurred almost certainly arose from contamination before the canning.