§ Mr. Thorneasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he can give any information about the village in Lincolnshire where a poultry keeper is asking people to buy his eggs before rats eat them; and what he intends doing about the matter?
§ Mr. MabaneAs soon as this matter was brought to the notice of my Department instructions were given for the eggs to be collected immediately. An investigation into the cause of the delay has been instituted but I am not at the moment in a position to say where the fault lay.
§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will consider banning the hatching and sale of chicks except at the correct time, 1st January to 31st May, since the result would be the annual diversion of many eggs in the remaining seven months to the general public?
Mr. HudsonNo, Sir. The course suggested would place severe restrictions on the conduct of the poultry industry, and the net result on the egg supplies available for consumption would be negligible.