§ 20. Mr. Peter Millsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he 1330 is satisfied with recent trends in the egg and egg products industry; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HoyTrends in the egg industry are being considered in the course of the Annual Review discussions, and I cannot make a statement in advance of the publication of the Annual Review White Paper.
§ Mr. MillsWill the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that, while many of us want a freer market in eggs, we also have very genuine fears for the future of egg production, and that it is not in the interest of the consumer for production to be in the hands of just four or five producers?
§ Mr. HoyWe have taken steps to protect our egg market by a scheme of minimum import prices. As I said in reply to another Question, this must be considered in the terms of the Annual Review.
§ Mr. RankinHas my hon. Friend noticed another trend in the egg industry—that eggs are getting smaller? [An HON. MEMBER: "Take action against the chickens."] Does my hon. Friend realise that very many people like myself think that this is the result of factory farming, because chicken are not getting out to roam the wild as before?
§ Mr. HoyI know how my hon. Friend feels about the difference between battery eggs and free-range eggs. Sometimes people whose sight is not so good are inclined to misjudge the size of the egg.