HC Deb 15 December 1965 vol 722 cc280-1W
107. Mr. Drayson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that Yorkshire Egg Producers Limited has paid producers regularly each week since the end of the war and is prepared to continue to do so without incurring any additional cost, and that the British Egg Marketing Board has given instructions that payments are now to be made fortnightly; and if he will direct the Committee of Investigation to report to him on the complaints made about the Marketing Board's new arrangements, with a view to retaining the Yorkshire Egg Producers system.

Mr. Peart

I am aware that under present arrangements packing stations—including Yorkshire Egg Producers Ltd.—make payments direct to producers, normally at weekly intervals, for the eggs they purchase on behalf of the Board, and that under the new contracts scheme the Egg Board will itself pay producers at fortnightly intervals.

While I have received a number of representations from interested parties about the Board's arrangements, I have not received any specific request which Ministers can properly consider referring to the Committee of Investigation.