§ 67. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Food what is likely to be the maximun number of shell eggs for each ration book on closing date end of May; and what are the prospects for June, July and August.
§ Sir B. Smith:I regret that owing partly to a shortfall in the supply of eggs from overseas and partly to the severe weather in March issues of shell eggs have fallen short of what I had anticipated. The prospects now are that 30 egg allocations will be completed by the end of May. I regret that I cannot predict the number of allocations for the ensuing three months as available supplies of eggs will be affected by the increasing shortage of poultry feeding stuffs.
§ 76. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food what effect the two recent reductions in feeding stuffs rations for poultry will have on egg production and consumers' egg rations in the next 12 months.
§ Sir B. Smith:As regards the reduction in rations of poultry food made on Ist May, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on the 10th April. The further temporary cut in rations for July, August and September, 92W recently announced by my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture, will not, I hope, seriously accentuate the normal seasonal decline in supplies of home produced eggs during this period.