§ Mr. Talbotasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the Egg Marketing Board has prescribed new terms of purchase under the contracts scheme to registered egg producers, one of which would withhold payment for up to four months, causing financial hardship ; that egg producers were not told the new terms before signing their contract forms ; that this action repudiates the Board's published undertaking to pay for eggs under contract on a fortnightly basis ; and if he will refer this complaint to the Committee of Investigation.
§ Mr. PeartThe method of paying producers under the Contracts Scheme is a matter for the Board. A complaint by the National Egg Packers' Association Ltd. about the operation of the centralised payments system generally has been referred by Ministers to the Committee of Investigation under Section 19 of the Agricultural Marketing Act, 1958. 1 have not received any formal complaint from producers on the lines of that made by the hon. Member which Ministers can properly consider referring to the Committee.