§ 69. Sir A. Hurdasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the average price for eggs paid to producers has fallen by 11 per cent. over the past year, when the Agriculture Act, 1957, lays down that the price guarantee for such products shall not vary by more than four per cent. from one year to the next; and if he will ensure that this disparity does not recur.
§ Mr. John HareThe four per cent. limit applies to the price guaranteed to the British Egg Marketing Board. The Board decides the minimum prices to producers, and these are affected by other factors besides the guaranteed price, in particular the risk sharing arrangements between the Board and the Government. These arrangements had the effect of increasing producers' prices in 1958–59 and reducing them in 1959–60. This largely accounts for the disparity in prices between the two years. I am considering with the Farmers' Unions at this Price Review what can be done to reduce fluctuations in producers' prices.