§ 26. Mr. Pardoeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been recovered by the British Egg Marketing Board from the manufacturers of pasteurised liquid egg products in excess profits; and if he will set up an inquiry into the reasons why these profits were allowed to be made.
§ Mr. HoyThis is a matter for the British Egg Marketing Board. Ministers can only consider intervention under the Agricultural Marketing Act if they receive a formal complaint and we have received no such complaint on this matter.
§ Mr. PardoeI thank the hon. Gentleman for that reply, but is he not aware that the excess profits made in this case are, in relation to the total turnover, just as grievous as those made in the case of Bristol Siddeley. Does he not think that an investigation of that sort should be made into this matter?
§ Mr. HoyAs I have said, the Egg Board is responsible for its own commercial policy, and unless we receive a formal complaint we have no power to refer the matter to the Committee of Investigation. So far we have not received a complaint.
§ Mr. RankinIs my hon. Friend aware that a large part of these excess profits are derived from eggs produced by battery hens? Would he look—
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. The Question is about profits on pasteurised eggs.
§ Mr. RankinOn a point of order. Battery hens produce eggs which are turned into liquid eggs which help to make these profits.
§ Mr. SpeakerI was aware of all the facts which the hon. Gentleman has given. Supplementary questions, however, must be related to the Question on the Order Paper.