HC Deb 26 February 1969 vol 778 cc1697-9
14. Mr. W. H. K. Baker

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what measures he proposes for assistance to egg producers in remote areas of the country resultant on the winding up of the Egg Marketing Board: and if he will make a statement.

15. Mr. James Davidson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has decided that Northern Ireland egg producers are to be subsidised; and to what extent he has considered the effect of such a subsidy on the United Kingdom market as a whole.

Mr. Cledwyn Hughes

The transitional arrangements for the next five years are designed to enable the industry to adapt to the new situation. No special assistance is envisaged for producers on the mainland of Great Britain. We have accepted the recommendation of the Reorganisation Commission that there should be special aid for sea transport for producers in Northern Ireland and the Orkneys.

Mr. Baker

Can the right hon. Gentleman justify his statement that it is not necessary to have a subsidy on the mainland? Can he say categorically that the scheme envisaged will not put out of business many small egg producers in the remoter parts of the country?

Mr. Hughes

We are confident that the scheme will work out well and that producers on the mainland, with a free market, will be able to get a reasonable return for their product. This was the basic reason why the Egg Reorganisation Commission made its recommendations, most of which we have accepted.

Mr. Davidson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the North-East is one of the main egg-producing areas in Scotland, and that his ruling that the extra grant is not available there is very much against the wishes and views of the Scottish National Farmers' Union?

Mr. Hughes

I recognise that the hon. Gentleman must represent some producers who have apprehensions on the matter. As he knows, producers have been selling direct to retailers throughout the country, even in the more peripheral areas. The House must remember that the Commission based its recommendation on the very important part played by egg production in the agricultural economies of Ulster and the Orkneys.

Mr. Ellis

Does my right hon. Friend accept that the producers concerned are generally the small producers? There is a significant way in which he could help them. There is a potential customer who wants good quality free-range eggs. If my right hon. Friend took steps to ensure that people were not allowed to describe their products as free-range when they are not there would be an enormous demand from customers who would pay a little extra for a quality egg.

Mr. Hughes

The small producer, as all of us are aware, does sell a good quality free-range egg.

Mr. Baker

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.