asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food the present annual cost of his staff needed to ensure the working of the egg distribution scheme; and what is the estimated loss hitherto under the scheme of imported eggs which have become rotten before reaching the consumer at all. or in an edible form?

Major Lloyd George:

The present estimated annual cost of the Ministry's staff engaged on eggs is £145,000. In addition to the work in connection with the egg distribution scheme, this staff also deals with the importation and distribution of frozen eggs and dried and processed eggs. Since the introduction of the egg scheme the total allowances made in respect of bad imported eggs amount to £98,154, representing 5.3 per cent. on U.S.A. eggs; 5.8 per cent. on Canadian eggs and 1.75 per cent. on Eire eggs.

Is not £145,000 a very high price to pay for three doubtful eggs per month?

Major Lloyd George:

At any rate 45,000,000 people are getting these three doubtful eggs per month. If my hon. Friend will be good enough to work out the figures, he will find that the cost is a small proportion of a penny per head.

Would it not be much cheaper to import the feeding-stuffs which are necessary? Would it not be much more efficient and would we not possibly get some fresher eggs?

Major Lloyd George:

Of course, that has occurred to us, but there is very great doubt as to whether it is not better to import eggs rather than feeding-stuffs. My hon. Friend is assuming that if we did import more feeding-stuffs, they would of necessity go to poultry keepers, but that is not by any means so. We weighed up the advantages of importing this commodity or that, and we came to the conclusion that it is better to import the finished article.

Might not the Ministry come down on the side of fresh eggs rather than bad eggs?

Mr. Graham White:

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the experience of the administration of the egg control scheme to date confirms the estimated expenditure previously announced?

Major Lloyd George:

Yes, Sir.