§ 47. Mr. Thorpeasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what written assurances were given by his Department in 1956 to the National Egg Packers' Association relating to their right to retain wholly the egg throughput if so desired in the event of the proposed egg marketing scheme becoming operative.
Month Quantity ('000 long hundreds) Weekly Prices (per long hundred) 17¾ lbs 16½ lbs 15¼ lbs 14 lbs 12½ lbs January 26.8 Week commencing: s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. 4th None quoted 11th None quoted 18th 22 6 20 0 18 0 17 0 16 0 25th 22 6 20 0 18 0 17 0 16 0 February 105.8 Week commencing: 1st 21 6 19 0 17 6 16 6 16 0 8th 21 6 19 6 18 0 17 0 16 0 15th 21 6 19 6 18 0 17 0 16 0 22nd 22 0 20 6 19 0 18 0 17 0 March 126.4 Week commencing: 1st 21 6 19 6 18 0 17 0 16 0 8th 22 0 20 0 19 0 18 0 17 0 15th 23 0 21 0 20 0 19 0 18 0 22nd 24 0 22 0 21 0 20 0 19 0 29th 25 0 23 0 21 6 20 0 19 0
NOTE: (1) The figures for quantities are derived from the Overseas Trade Accounts of the U.K. (2) The prices are wholesale prices for bulk supplies published by the London Egg Exchange. (3) The weights quoted correspond to the U.K. statutory grades as follows:— 16½ lbs and 17¾ lbs per long hundred—Large 15¼ lbs per long hundred—Standard 12½ lbs and 14 lbs per long hundred—Medium
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his policy towards the regulation of imports of shell eggs.
§ Mr. HoyMy right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade are not contemplating any change in policy.
§ Mr. Maxwellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now state the outcome of his talks with the farmers' unions and the British Egg Marketing Board.
Mr. PearlTalks have been taking place since November, 1964, between the Government, the National Farmers'
222W
§ Mr. Hastingsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will furnish details of the imports of Polish eggs during the last three months; and at what prices these eggs have been selling on the British market.
§ Mr. HoyShell egg imports from Poland in January, February and March, 1965 (which are the last three months for which figures are available) and the prices during those months are as follows:
Unions and the British Egg Marketing Board to consider possible changes in the marketing and supply arrangements for eggs. Agreement has been reached between the unions, the Board and Agricultural Ministers on an outline of arrangements, to be introduced on 3rd April, 1966, and operated by the Board under its existing powers. This is intended to promote the more orderly marketing of eggs through packing stations and also to bring supply and demand into better balance, without preventing the modernisation of the industry at a satisfactory pace.
More orderly marketing of the greater part of the supply will be sought by 223W offering producers, individually or collectively, a choice of two kinds of contract with the Board. Both of these will confer a premium, not exceeding 4d. per dozen, on the delivery of specified quantities of eggs spread equally over the four quarters of the year. Under the first form of contract, producers will contract to supply all their eggs (except for "B" licence sales and sales at point of production) to the Board. Under the second, producers wishing to retain freedom to sell privately will be able to contract for a specified quantity of eggs but will receive no premium in any quarter when supplies are more than 10 per cent. below the contract quantity.
In view of the risks of recurrent overproduction, there will, under both forms of contract, be a ceiling on the numbers of eggs eligible for premium. This will be based on actual supply to the Board during the two years ended 27th March, 1965, though it will be modified in subsequent years by a two year "rolling average" which will take account of changes in each producer's deliveries, and perhaps from time to time by a "ceiling" when over-production is in prospect.
The remaining supply of eggs, not embraced under the two types of contract already described, and mostly in the hands of large numbers of small producers, will be subject to a third and simpler form of contract under which any producer may receive the same premium on up to 100 boxes delivered during any contract year.
The premiums will be paid out of the Board's funds and will thus represent a redistribution of its payments to producers.
Further details of the arrangements will be published by the Board, which accepts full responsibility for these and for the actual operation of the plan. Agricultural Ministers are concerned only with its more general features, and are satisfied that it should help to achieve the objects stated in the first paragraph of this statement. It will, however, be subject to review with the Unions and the Board not later than 1969, and will not in any way affect the guarantee arrangements.