§ Mr. STEWARTasked the Minister of Food whether the Ministry of Food arranged to purchase and export 90,000 cases of eggs from Egypt during the present season; whether the bulk of the eggs purchased by the Ministry were supplied by the members of a certain committee of traders on such terms that a fixed profit was assured to them, whilst other exporters were excluded from supplying; whether strong representations against the methods of purchase employed were made both by the other exporters at Alexandria and merchants in this country direct to the Ministry of Food, to the agent of the Ministry at Alexandria, and to the High Commissioner, Cairo; whether up to the end of January less than 20,000 cases of eggs had been shipped; whether the system adopted was the cause of the small quantity exported, and had to be abandoned in consequence; whether a great deal of discontent exists amongst the natives owing to the methods of control employed; whether, under the circumstances, the control of export is to be entirely removed; and, if so, when?
§ Mr. PARKERBy agreement with the Egyptian Government the Ministry of Food arranged to purchase the exportable surplus of Egyptian eggs with the exception of a small quantity supplied to Malta. The prices paid were originally fixed by the Ministry's Agent in Egypt in64W consultation with a Committee of Traders, but it is not the case that exporters not on the Committee were excluded from supplying eggs. This Committee was disbanded on the 27th January, and the supply of eggs thrown open to tender. Representations against the methods of purchase employed have been received by the Ministry of Food from some Egyptian packers who have been asked for a more definite statement of their case, but with one exception no complaint has been received from merchants in this country. The answer to the third part of the question is in the affirmative, but my right hon. Friend cannot agree that the system of purchase employed was the reason for the small quantity of eggs exported or for discontent among the natives in Egypt. It has already been decided to discontinue the purchase and shipment of eggs from Egypt on account of the Ministry of Food as from the 31st March.