§ 17. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the prices paid to producers sending eggs to the packing stations in the past three months compare with the prices paid in the same period last year; and to what extent the guaranteed price has been lowered by reason of lower feeding stuff costs and the Exchequer liability for subsidy in both periods.
§ Mr. John HareThe minimum prices guaranteed to producers for hen eggs sold through packing stations in the first three months of 1957 averaged 4s. 1¾d. per dozen. The minimum prices which the British Egg Marketing Board has required packers to pay during the first three months of 1958 are expected to average about 3s. 9d. per dozen. The price of 4s. 1¾d. included a feed cost addition of 1½d. per dozen, and the price 831 of 3s. 9d. takes account of a feed cost reduction of about 3½d. per dozen. For the first three months of 1957, the subsidy was approximately £20 million and, for the corresponding period of this year, is estimated at just over £11 million.