asked the Minister of Food why the average weekly consumption of eggs fell from 17·77 million dozen in 1950 to 15·39 million dozen in 1953.

The figures quoted by the hon. and gallant Member, which are from the Digest of Statistics for the United Kingdom, have recently been revised and new weekly averages of 17·58 million dozen for 1950 and 16·38 million dozen for 1953 will be published shortly. The decline is mainly in imports.

Is it not fantastic that, at a time when the Minister of Food is spending millions of pounds more and when the production of eggs is going up, the weekly consumption of eggs in this country is going down?

The fact of the matter is that there is no shortage and there has not been a shortage since decontrol. Therefore, I do not think it is necessary to say any more on that point.

Has my right hon. and gallant Friend had any expression of appreciation at all from hon. Members opposite for making so much more food available?

Is the Minister now aware, in spite of his revision, how right I was last week and how wrong he was?

I am not quite sure to what the hon. Member refers, because he raised so many things. I would remind him, however, that he was asked on that occasion whether he was in favour of giving a lower price to the producer or charging a bigger price to the consumer, and I am still waiting for his answer.

asked the Minister of Food if he intends to adopt the proposal sent to him to cold store surplus British eggs so that prices may be raised to cover production and distribution costs and maintained at similar levels during scarcity.

Cold storage is, of course, extensively used for eggs, but perhaps my hon. Friend will consider the letter I have sent him about his proposals.

Why is it possible and right for the Ministry of Food to cold store its own purchase of foreign eggs on glut markets and sell them on rising markets, and yet it is impossible and wrong to act in the same way in the case of home-produced eggs?

That is not so. We treat all eggs in this fashion, if necessary. It is not so much a question of cold storage as the time when we release the eggs. It would be quite disastrous to release a large quantity of eggs during the spring flush.

Will my right hon. and gallant Friend have another look at this question? Whilst I appreciate the difficulties of the recent season and the skill of his officials, is he aware that I suggest that he is wrong in stating that his Ministry supports home-produced eggs on a glut market and re-sells on a rising market?

asked the Minister of Food the current unit cash allowance being paid by his Department in respect of eggs.

The unit rate of cash allowance now being paid on eggs produced in Great Britain is approximately 1s. 4½d. per dozen.

In view of this substantial sum, is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman now prepared to set up an eggs Division with officials properly to administer this large expenditure of public funds?

In the first place, of course we have an eggs Division as before, but the sum of money involved would have been considerably greater during the Administration of the hon. Member.

Does the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not think it thoroughly dishonest to pretend that the Government have taken away the subsidy and to boast about setting eggs free of control, when there is a hidden subsidy of this nature? Will he follow the example of his predecessor and be honest about the situation?

I do not think I shall follow the example of my predecessor because, although he does not like it, the fact remains that eggs are available very cheaply.