§ Mr. Ensorasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement following his consideration of the Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Eggs.
§ Mr. Cledwyn HughesThe Government have been studying with great care the Report of the Reorganisation Commission for Eggs in the light of the comments received from the industry. It has not yet been possible to resolve all the issues which arise from the Commission's proposals for the phasing out of the subsidy and the establishment of a basically free market for eggs. These raise complex questions and it is important to get the right answers. I shall be making a further statement as soon as possible. Pending this the British Egg Marketing Board, at our request, are proceeding with their arrangements for next year.
There is, however, one important aspect of the present marketing arrangements on which a decision is needed. We have decided that the obligation to stamp subsidised eggs should be ended forthwith. My colleagues and I are laying before Parliament today a statutory order to remove the obligation to stamp with effect from 23rd December. To provide a method of identifying eggs eligible for 463W subsidy at the packing stations the obligation to stamp the shell will be replaced by a requirement that the bulk containers into which the eggs are packed are to be marked with the weight grade and the packing station code number. The British Egg Marketing Board have been pressing strongly for the removal of the statutory stamping requirement and will no doubt be taking parallel action on their side immediately. Since the removal of the stamp on the eggs themselves is likely to lead to an increase in the quantities passing through packing stations the Government intend at the 1969 Annual Review to set a limit to the total number of eggs in respect of which subsidy will be payable in 1969–70.