§ 3. Mr. Farrasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total of eggs imported from Poland during the past twelve months; and what were the corresponding imports during each of the previous two years.
§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Christopher Soames)In the year ended 30th June, 1961, 581,000 boxes of eggs were imported from Poland compared with 197,000 boxes in 1959–60 and 141,000 boxes in 1958–59.
§ Mr. FarrIs my right hon. Friend aware that these eggs, which sell in this country at about 2s. 6d. a dozen, sell in Poland at about 6s. a dozen? In view of the fact that imports of Polish eggs into this country have increased some ninety times since 1958–59, will my right hon. Friend take steps to control their import forthwith?
§ Mr. SoamesI think that this has to be set against the total supplies available on the market. The total imports of Polish eggs this year, even at the higher figure, were only 1–7 per cent. of the total supplies available. As my hon. Friend will be aware, when an application was 576 made to my right hon. Friend by the National Farmers' Union and by the Egg Marketing Board, my right hon. Friend took the view that there was a margin of dumping in the price, but that the other two legs on which the application had to stand did not meet the necessary qualifications. He said that, had imports continued, they would have done. They have not continued to any great extent, and this week no boxes are being imported.
§ Mr. Maxwell-HyslopDoes my right hon. Friend's Answer imply that if there is an increase in the production of English eggs he accepts that as a reason for us importing still more foreign eggs, because he expressed his Answer in terms of the proportions to the total number of eggs available?
§ Mr. SoamesPerhaps I expressed myself badly. The thing is that the total egg production is less this year. Imports are consequently up, and imports of Polish eggs form part of that increase.