Mr. Johnstonasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he can state the wholesale price of home-produced fresh eggs in February, 1938, and February, 1939, respectively; and, as the reduction in price for this year represents a loss of 10s. per week per 100 birds upon the smallholdings created by the State, what steps he is taking to put these smallholdings upon an economic basis?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe average prices of first and second quality eggs at town and country markets in England and Wales during February, 1938, and February, 1939, were is. 5¼d. and 1s. 3¼d. per dozen, respectively. On this basis, and taking into account the average number of eggs laid per hen per week at this season of the year, the reduction in the gross return per hundred birds would be very much less than the hon. Member suggests. Moreover, comparing the same months, there has been a fall of 23 per cent. in the price of poultry feeding stuffs, which forms a substantial part of the costs of egg production. As regards the last part of the question, I 1491W would refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave on 27th February to the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher).