HC Deb 03 December 1964 vol 703 cc739-40
29. Sir H. Harrison

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to prohibit the import of shell eggs into this country.

Mr. Redhead

No, Sir.

Sir H. Harrison

Is the Minister aware that a large number of producers of shell eggs in this country have gone out of business? Why should we continue to allow all these foreign imports when we can produce sufficient in this country for our own consumption?

Mr. Redhead

There is no reason to imagine that the importation of eggs, which has amounted to less than 2 per cent. of total supplies, has had anything like the deleterious consequences the hon. and gallant Gentleman suggests.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Would my hon. Friend bear in mind when he is considering these appeals from hon. Members opposite that the Committee of Ways and Means spent 15 hours yesterday defeating the efforts of the Opposition to prevent the Government from restricting imports at all?

Mr. Redhead

I am only too conscious personally of the extraordinary hours which the Committee spent on that subject.