§ Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food what functions are performed respectively by the Eggs Division of his Department and National Egg Distributors Association Limited; what is the number of persons employed in each of these organisations and the aggregate so employed; the total estimated cost of these organisations during the year to 5th April, 1952, including all overhead and administrative charges; and what future plans he has for these organisations.
§ Major Lloyd Georgepursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, Monday, 12th November, 1951: Vol. 493, c. 630] supplied the following information:
The functions performed by the Eggs Division of my Department and by the National Egg Distributors Association Limited are as follows:
- (A) The Eggs Division is responsible for the purchase of home-produced and imported shell eggs and imported egg products and for arranging their equitable distribution through trade channels to consumers.
176 - (B) N.E.D.A.L. is responsible, subject to the general direction of the Ministry, for the collection and distribution of eggs from packing stations and ships, supplying boxes and packing materials and making payments to home packers, arranging transport, inspecting imported eggs and carrying out certain accounting duties.
The number of persons employed by each of these organisations is as follows:
Eggs Division 160 (including 43 industrial staff) N.E.D.A.L 954 (including 707 industrial staff) TOTAL 1,114 (including 750 industrial staff) The total estimated costs for the financial year 1951–52 are as follows:
Eggs Division £1,036,000 including administrative overheads and a proportion of the cost of regional and local food offices mainly in connection with allocation. N.E.D.A.L. £327,500 including overheads. The arrangements for dealing with eggs are being examined in relation to present needs, and the Government's obligations under the Agriculture Act. 1947.