§ Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reductions were made in the price paid for eggs to home producers by the British Egg Marketing Board in each of the weeks during the month of January, 1967; and whether such reductions were made by reason of an excessive import of eggs at a time when home supplies were adequate.
Week ending—dozens of eggs Country 7th January, 1967 14th January, 1967 21st January, 1967 28th January, 1967 4th February, 1967 Denmark … … 90,000 300,000 450,000 420,000 330,000 Finland … … 30,000 — 90,000 90,000 30,000 Norway … … — 30,000 60,000 60,000 30,000 Sweden … … — 30,000 60,000 60,000 30,000 Poland … … — — 90,000 180,000 270,000 Eire … … — — — — — South Africa … … 120,000 60,000 60,000 — — Other Sources … … — — 60,000 60,000 — Total … … 240,000 420,000 870,000 870,000 690,000
Representative retail prices per dozen of 'Lion' brand eggs during January, as published by the British Egg Marketing Board were as follows:— Date Large Standard Medium Small 4th January, 1967 … 5s. 0d.–5s. 6d. 4s. 9d.–5s. 0d. 4s. 3d.–4s. 6d. 3s. 9d. 11th January, 1967 … 4s. 6d.–5s. 0d. 4s. 0d.–4s. 6d. 3s. 6d.–4s. 0d. 3s. 3d. 18th January, 1967 … 4s. 6d.–4s. 9d. 4s. 0d.–4s. 6d. 3s. 6d.–4s. 0d. 3s. 3d. 25th January, 1967 … 4s. 6d.–4s. 9d. 4s. 0d.–4s. 6d. 3s. 6d.–4s. 0d. 3s. 3d. No comparable information about prices of imported eggs is published but they vary according to size and source and in
226W
§ Mr. HoyThe minmum basic prices paid to producers by the British Egg Marketing Board for first quality large, medium and standard eggs were reduced by 7d. per dozen, and for first quality small eggs by 6d. per dozen from 8th January, 1967. A further reduction of 3d. per dozen on all first quality eggs sold to the Board was made from 22nd January, 1967.
The determination of minimum producer prices is a matter for the British Egg Marketing Board which has agreed that these should broadly reflect the pattern of wholesale market prices, taking account of Exchequer payments to the Board.
§ Mr. Currieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what numbers of dozens of eggs were imported into the United Kingdom from Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Eire and South Africa, respectively, in each of the weeks during the month of January, 1967; what were the average retail selling prices of home-produced and imported eggs, respectively, in the stated period; and what was the total cost to the United Kingdom across the exchanges of such imports.
§ Mr. HoyOfficial figures of imports during January are not yet available. The following figures are estimates from trade sources of shell eggs imported during the five weeks ended 4th February, 1967:
general sell at somewhat lower prices than comparable sizes of home produced eggs.
227WNo figures of the import cost of shell eggs imported during January are yet available.