§ 70. Mr. Rentonasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that a large proportion of eggs produced on farms in
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ESTIMATED AVERAGE COSTS—1951 Commodity Home-Produced Supplies Imported Supplies (a) Beef … £161 a ton ex slaughterhouse. £116 a ton c.i.f. (frozen fore and hind quarters). £113 a ton c.i.f. (boned and boneless). Mutton … £199 a ton ex slaughterhouse. £75 a ton c.i.f. Lamb … £254 a ton ex slaughterhouse. £138 5s. a ton c.i.f. Pork … £234 a ton ex slaughterhouse. £187 5s. a ton c.i.f. Shell Eggs … £6 16s. 6d. a box of 360 ex packing station. £4 6s. a box of 360 c.i.f. Wheat (milling) … £28 6s. 8d. a ton ex farm. £33 10s. a ton c.i.f. Barley (feeding) … £26 a ton ex farm (b). £32 15s. a ton c.i.f. NOTES: (a) The prices for imported supplies are based on the figures published in the Trade and Navigation Accounts for the period April—October, 1951. (b) The controlled maximum price for barley sold other than for human consumption is £26 a ton. It is estimated that the weighted average price realised by farmers on the sale of all Home Grown barley is £42 a ton. winter inevitably suffer from discolouring of the shell, but are otherwise sound; whether he will reconsider his decision to offer a considerably reduced price for such eggs, even when the discolouring is very slight; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture assures me that, with care, winter eggs need not be discoloured. The higher price which clean eggs command should encourage farmers to produce them.