HC Deb 16 February 1937 vol 320 cc1015-7W
Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average wholesale price of home-produced eggs in January, 1936, and January, 1937, respectively; and what were the average

— Unit. January, 1936. January, 1937.
£ s. d. £ s. d.
Eggs, National Mark, Special Weights (a) … 120 0 18 5 0 15 1
Eggs, National Mark, Standard Weight (a) … 120 0 16 9 0 13 10
Eggs, 1st Quality (b) … Dozen 0 1 7¼ 0 1 4¼
Eggs, 2nd Quality (b) … Dozen 0 1 5¾ 0 1 2¾
Wheat (c) … Cwt. 0 6 3 0 9 9
Bran, British (d) … Ton (2,240 lb.) 6 8 0 8 9 6
Maize, Argentine (d) … 480 lb. 0 17 9 1 5 6
Weatings (d) … Ton (2,240 lb.) 6 8 0 8 12 6
Middlings, fine, imported (e) … Ton (2,240 lb.) 5 17 0 —
(a) At London. The minimum weights of eggs graded under the National Mark were reduced on 1st September, 1936, from 2¼ ozs. to 2 3/16 ozs. in the case of Special Weight, and from 2 ozs. to 1 7/8 ozs. in the case of Standard Weight
(b) At certain representative country markets in England and Wales.
(c) Average prices returned at markets scheduled under the Corn Returns Act, 1882, and the Corn Sales Act, 1921.
(d) At Bristol, Hull, Liverpool and London.
(e) At London. No quotation available in January, 1937.

Sir G. Fox

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied with the efficacy of the system of marking imported eggs; and whether he will consider substituting a system under which the country, the day, the month and the year of importation will be clearly marked on all eggs?

Mr. Ramsbotham

At present all hen and duck eggs in shell are required to bear an indication of origin on importation, and I have no information that would suggest that the marking requirements are not complied with. There is no power under existing legislation to require the application of date-marks, and in any case I am afraid that my hon.

Average Wholesale Prices per Great Hundred of Polish Eggs in London.
Description. Agricultural Market Report. Weekly Dairy Produce Notes.
January, 1936. January, 1937. January, 1936. January, 1937.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
53/54 Rg.. … … (a) 7 9 (a) 6 5(c)
51/52 Rg. … … (a) 7 4 10 6(b) 6 2 (c)
Reds … … (a) (a) 8 6 (b) 5 1(c)
(a) No quotations. (b) Monday, January 20th only. (c) Cold stored eggs.
Note.—The quotations in the Agricultural Market Report are furnished by the official market reporter of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries; those in the Weekly Dairy Produce Notes are furnished by the London Egg Exchange.

prices of wheat, bran, maize and middlings in those months?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The following statement shows the monthly average wholesale prices of certain kinds of eggs and feeding stuffs in January, 1936, and January, 1937:

Friend's suggestion would not be practicable.

Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average wholesale price of Polish eggs during the months of January, 1936, and January, 1937, respectively?

Mr. Ramsbotham

No comparable prices for January, 1936 and 1937, are available, but the following statement gives such information as is available; the prices are extracted from the Agricultural Market Report, issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, and the Weekly Dairy Produce Notes, published in the Imperial Economic Committee.

Mr. Turton

asked the Minister of Agriculture what was the average wholesale price of eggs imported from South America into this country in January, 1936, and January, 1937, respectively?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The average wholesale price of South American eggs at Liverpool in January, 1937, as furnished by the market reporter of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, ranged from 7s. 8d. per 120 for eggs weighing 14 lbs. per 120, to 9s. for eggs weighing 17 lbs. per 120. No market quotations are available for South American eggs in respect of January, 1936.