asked the Minister of Food if his Department have yet purchased the trial shipment of eggs from the Gambia, made by the Colonial Development Corporation.

The trial shipment to which the hon. Member refers is presumably that of four boxes of eggs sent by the Colonial Development Corporation as an experiment. No question of purchase therefore arises.

What is happening to these eggs, because the Minister of Food is the only importer? Is he keeping them longer so that the quality will improve, or what?

The hon. Gentleman has been told that there were only four boxes in all.