HC Deb 23 January 1957 vol 563 cc64-5W
Mr. J. E. B. Hill

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many eggs, in shell and in other form, were imported in 1956, specifying the countries of origin and the proportion their imports were to total home consumption.

Mr. Amory

Following is the information.

SHELL EGGS (HEN AND DUCK)
(a) Estimated total quantity for consumption in 1956:—
899.1 million dozen
(b) Imports in 1956:—
Country of consignment Quantity Million dozen Percentage of Total Consumption
South Africa 7.6 0.84
Australia 4.2 0.46
Irish Republic 4.3 0.48
Denmark 14.5 1.61
Poland 1.7 0.19
Netherlands 1.6 0.18
All other countries 4.4 0.49
Total imports 38.3 4.25

EGG PRODUCTS
Imports, January-November, 1956
Tons
Denmark 294
Western Germany 176
Netherlands 339
China 7,430
Argentine 182
Australia 5,909
New Zealand 619
South Africa 437
Irish Republic 147
Others 177
15,750

Reliable records of consumption of egg products are not available but the quantity consumed during the period January-November, 1956, is estimated to be not less than 34,300 tons. The excess of consumption over current imports was largely met by a reduction in stocks of imported egg products. Home production of egg products is relatively very small.

Details of imports of egg products are not yet available for December, 1956.