§ Sir Hal MillerTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the introduction of a scheme to encourage egg producers to leave the industry or reduce the size of their flocks.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 19 December 1988]: I refer my hon. Friend to the statement given yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Agriculture Fisheries and Food at columns 21-22.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish the results of tests by his Department's Microbiology Department on eggs produced by individual egg producers from England and Wales; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 19 December 1988]: I can confirm that the microbiology laboratories of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service have tested eggs for salmonella. Normal commercial practice requires ADAS to seek the specific agreement of its customers before disclosing the individual results of such tests, but representatives of the egg industry have agreed to the release of the information in the interests of informing the consumer. I can therefore report that to date ADAS has tested in excess of 4,000 eggs from approximately 150 producers. Salmonella species has not been detected in any of these eggs.
§ Mr. Teddy TaylorTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of eggs exported over the last 12 months; and if he will make a statement outlining the support mechanism and protection available to egg producers.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 19 December 1988]: I refer the hon. Member to the statement that I made to the House on 19 December at columns 21-22 about the short-term measures to be introduced to help egg producers in the present critical period.
In the 12 months to October 1988, about 670,000 cases of eggs (each containing 360 eggs) were exported from the United Kingdom.