§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what will be the aggregate cost of the 300,000,000 dozen eggs to be imported from the United States of America; what would be the aggregate cost of Manitoba wheat which would occupy the same shipping space; what tonnage of wheat would be represented by this wheat importation; and what head of British poultry it is estimated could thereby be fed during the coming winter?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe notice has been too short to enable all the information requested by my hon. Friend to be ascertained. With his permission I will write him fully as soon as possible.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why Messrs. Pattullo Vinson, of Sevenoaks, who had till recently been disposing of 3,000 dozen eggs weekly and who paid a large sum for the charter rights of Seven-oaks market, were not appointed egg distributors and graders for that area?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe firm to which my hon. Friend refers made application in September, 1940, for a licence to establish a packing station for eggs. It is an essential preliminary to the grant of a licence that the applicant should have proper equipment and staff. The firm in question had neither at that time and have not obtained them since.
§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food in how many cases the eggs imported into this country have been held in warehouse accommodation rather than in cold storage; whether storage, other than cold storage, is suitable for eggs; how long eggs remain eatable after they have left storage; and what is the normal time of distribution between leaving cold storage and reaching the consumer?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is not the normal practice in this country to place eggs in cold storage unless they are to be kept for lengthy periods. Cool warehouse accommodation is entirely suitable for short-period storage of eggs and most of the eggs imported into this country are so stored. Eggs remain edible for from two to three weeks after leaving cold store. The normal time eggs take to reach the consumer from cold store should not exceed one week.
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§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what steps are taken to check the quality of Irish eggs imported to this country; and whether he is aware that in recent weeks considerable numbers of these eggs, distributed in Scotland, have been bad?
Major Lloyd GeorgeEggs imported from Eire are examined on arrival in this country. I am aware that a number of such eggs recently distributed in Scotland have been bad. There have been cases recently where Eire eggs have been packed in boxes made of damp wood and occasionally eggs so packed deteriorate quickly. An officer of the Ministry is at present visiting Eire to advise on methods of packing and shipment.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he has now made arrangements for persons who are on milk and egg diet under doctor's orders to receive an increased ration of eggs?
Major Lloyd GeorgeEggs are not rationed but arrangements have been made for hospitals to receive additional supplies where their normal shares under the eggs control scheme are not sufficient to enable them to treat certain classes of patients. The possibility of extending this arrangement to persons suffering from similar illnesses in their own homes is being examined.