§ Mr. Adam Butlerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average payment per dozen imported French eggs of monetary compensatory amounts over the past 12 and the past three months, respectively; and what effect on landed prices the suspension of MCAs is likely to have.
§ Mr. BishopMonetary compensatory amounts are subject to frequent and irregular changes reflecting the changes in the value of the pound and the French franc. It is, therefore, not practicable to calculate a meaningful average for a 12- or 3-month period. The following table shows the MCAs applicable on the first day of each of the 12 months in the period July 1974 to June 1975.
The net mca payments on imported French eggs if not suspended would have been 1.48p per dozen for grade 4 eggs on 7th July.
ment in their scheme to slaughter 2 million laying hens; and if he will take steps to establish the object of the scheme and the cost of it.
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§ Mr. BishopI am informed that the original budget for this scheme remains at 3 million francs. The rate of compensation is also unchanged at 1.25 francs per bird, but to protect the market it has been necessary to hold the birds in cold storage longer than expected and costs have, therefore, been higher than estimated. This has led to the target of 2 million birds being reduced to 1.2 million; the greater part of which have already been slaughtered. The object of the scheme is to relieve pressure of suplies on the egg market which, I understand, has already begun to show an upward move.