§ Major GLYNasked the Minister of Agriculture (1) what percentage of the total number of eggs produced in Great Britain come from general farms and poultry farms, respectively; and what 2529W steps the Ministry is in a position to take to assist poultry farmers in grading and marketing their produce;
(2) whether, in consultation with the Board, he will consider the advisability of publishing an official standard for the age of new-laid eggs, irrespective of the class of trade in which they are sold, and that the term preserved should be more clearly defined, so as to ensure that before preserving they are not unduly old; and whether, in view of the quantity of imported eggs sold in this country which are often kept in cold storage, any further steps can be taken so that the public can distinguish between British produce and imported eggs?
Mr. GUINNESSIn January, 1926, the Ministry published as No. 10 of its Economic Series a Report on Egg Marketing in England and Wales. In this Report it is estimated that more than 80 per cent, of the home-produced eggs sold for consumption are marketed from the flocks of general farmers and smallholders. Following the publication of this Report, the Ministry has given 11 demonstrations at selected centres in2530W different parts of the country. These demonstrations have illustrated in a practical way the various suggestions for improved marketing made in the Report; I hope to arrange to continue these demonstrations during the coming year. In addition, leaflets containing hints on egg marketing and others explaining the grading idea have been distributed free at these demonstrations and circulated widely through the medium of interested organisations. About 45,000 copies have been distributed to date.
As there is every indication that the industry, as a whole, is now ready to formulate an agreed programme of marketing reform, I have recently reconstituted my Poultry Advisory Committee by extending the representation of the distributive trades. The reconstituted committee met for the first time on 9th December and set up a small subcommittee to prepare a scheme for the better marketing of eggs produced in this country. This sub-committee will, no doubt, consider the points to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers.