34. Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the numbers of egg producers in England and Wales registered with the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.
§ Mr. HoyThe following is the Answer:
NUMBER OF PRODUCERS IN ENGLAND AND WALES REGISTERED WITH BRITISH EGG MARKETING BOARD 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 225,000 172,000 178,000 136,000 137,000 Notes:
1. Figures as at 1st April in each year, supplied by Registrar of B.E.M.B.
2. Apparent sharp reductions between 1965 and 1966 and between 1967 and 1968 reflect compilation of a new register of producers in connection with the introduction of the Contracts Scheme in 1966 and a revision of the Board's register carried out after 1st April, 1967.
39. Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the throughput of hen eggs by the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date for England and Wales.
§ Mr. HoyThe figures for the April-March years 1964–65 to 1968–69 are respectively 21.0, 19.1, 18.2, 17.7 and 16.3 million boxes of 360 eggs. These include second quality as well as first quality eggs.