§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the extent of the United Kingdom's self-sufficiency in egg production. [137581]
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many registered egg producers have traded in each of the past 10 years. [137579]
§ Ms QuinUnder EC egg marketing legislation egg producers are required to register their premises only if they intend to use any of the Special Marketing Terms such as Free Range or Barn. Producers of eggs from cage systems are not included in the table.
Financial year Number of premises 1992 1,168 1993 1,162 1994 1,046 1995 1,057 1996 1,027 1997 1,055 1998 1,081 1999 1,161 2000 1,252 In 1998, MAFF data show over 25,000 holdings with laying hens.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what volume of eggs was imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years. [137582]
§ Ms QuinThe quantity of eggs imported into the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years is as follows:
Million dozen Year Number of eggs imported 1990 73 1991 50 1992 41 1993 49 1994 67 1995 66 1996 72 1997 70 1998 64 1999 69 Data include shell egg equivalent of whole (dried, frozen and liquid) egg, egg yolk, and albumen.
§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the trend in ex-farm prices for fresh eggs over the past 10 years. [137580]
463W
§ Ms QuinThe average ex-farm price for all egg types for each of the last 10 years is as follows:
Pence per dozen Year All egg type average 1990 42.6 1991 36.3 1992 36.8 1993 41.9 1994 42.4 1995 38.3 1996 45.8 1997 39.6 1998 36.3 1999 34.2