§ Sir J. Wardlaw-Milneasked the Minister of Agriculture what was the total of foreign eggs imported into this country last year; and how many of these were imported from countries with which we had trade treaties?
§ Dr. BurginI have been asked to reply. The total number of foreign eggs in shell imported into this country in 1936 was 19,941,251 great hundreds: of these 11,919,926 great hundreds were imported from countries with which we have trade agreements specifically precluding increased import duties on eggs in shell. It should be noted, however, that most of the countries with which we have no trade agreements specifically mentioning eggs have most-favoured-nation rights. Increased import duties on eggs not in shell are not precluded by any trade agreement; the quantity imported last year was 882,953 cwts.
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§ Sir J. Wardlaw-Milneasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the superintendent of one of the Japanese Government hygienic institutions has reported that Chinese eggs have been found in certain instances to contain the bacilli of tuberculosis, of syphilis, and of typhoid fever; and what action has been taken in this country to ensure that eggs of this kind imported here are not so infected?
§ Sir K. WoodI am not aware of the report referred to but if my hon. Friend will furnish me with the information in his possession I will have inquiries made. I may add that the examinations of Chinese eggs which have been made in the laboratory of my Department have not revealed the presence of any disease-producing organisms.