§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what requests he has received from the British Egg Marketing Board for an extension of its control over egg sales in the United Kingdom with particular reference to farm gate sales; and what reply he has given.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsNone.
§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to alleviate hardship to consumers and processors pending the outcome of the two inquiries by the committee of investigation into the second quality egg scheme.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsI would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave him on 13th July and also to my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 15th July.
§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received alleging that the committee of investigation 419W appointed by him to examine the complaint of the Western Egg Pasteurising Company failed to conduct its inquiry in a proper judicial manner; what reply he has made thereto; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsCertain representations have been received from the solicitors acting for the company. These are being considered and a reply will be sent to the solicitors as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that no part of the subsidy payments to egg producers is being used by the British Egg Marketing Board to pay cold storage costs for frozen liquid egg stocks at present in excess of 4,000 tons; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe subsidy is calculated only by reference to the number and prices of first-quality eggs, and it is for the Board, which is an independent statutory body controlled by producers, to use this payment for their benefit.
§ Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange for financial assistance to be provided towards the legal costs of those appearing before the Committee of Investigation currently inquiring into the manner in which the second-quality egg market was shared out between 12 United Kingdom firms.
§ Mr. Scott-HopkinsThe Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958, does not provide Ministers with powers to give financial assistance of this kind.