§ Mr. Hardyasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whais his estimate of the relative costs to the farmer of equipping a 20,000-bird egg production unit in the United Kingdom and in the Netherlands; what are the respective levels of Government grant available in each country; what effect the differential has on the relative competitiveness of the
418WBritish and Dutch egg industries; whether he will increase the grant in the United Kingdom to the same level as in the Netherlands; and if he will make a statement on the long-term future for the industry.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe costs of equipping such units at any particular location will be influenced by a variety of factors, including the particular type of housing and degree of mechanisation, but might be expected to average around the equivalent of £6 per bird housed on the basis of current ADAS estimates of the average costs of establishing fully equipped, modern units on "green field" sites.
EEC directive No. 72/159 on the modernisation of farms prohibits Government grants for egg production. We appreciate producers' concern about the effects of recent trends in chick placings on their returns and we are holding discussions with the main organisations concerned.