§ 8. Mr. Walkerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much of the fall in egg prices he attributes to the import of eggs from Poland and Roumania.
§ Mr. SoamesAs my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade said on 20th April producers' organisations have applied for anti-dumping duty on these imports. This application is now being examined and the effect on prices is, of course, an important part of the case. I have been having urgent consultations with my right hon. Friend who is also in touch with the Polish and Roumanian authorities.
§ Mr. WalkerMy right hon. Friend will, I think, recognise that producers are deeply concerned at the delay in applying anti-dumping legislation concerning these imports. Will he undertake to consult his right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to see whether, in future, these powers can be applied far more speedily?
§ Mr. SoamesAs matters stand, a good deal has to be proved before antidumping legislation can be invoked. I do not accept that my right hon. Friend 6 the President of the Board of Trade has acted with other than speed on this occasion. As I have said, however, I am in the closest touch with my right hon. Friend and I hope that it will not be long before a conclusion can be reached.
§ Mr. TurtonIs my right hon. Friend aware that, whilst these discussions are going on, Roumanian eggs are pouring in at very low prices and breaking the market? Can he devise a quicker method of dealing with a problem such as this?
§ Mr. SoamesThe only method available to us under existing legislation is anti-dumping measures.
§ Mr. TurtonWill my right hon. Friend consider revising that anti-dumping legislation to permit of quicker methods?
§ Mr. SoamesNo. I am not yet convinced that the anti-dumping legislation is not effective.