asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether there is any special reason why the price of eggs should have been reduced at this time of the year; whether the prices now current correspond to market prices in Great Britain, or have been fixed as a result of some arrangement between his Department and the authorised egg export firms.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Price of Eggs.
A reduction in the price of eggs is usual at this time of the year.
For eggs exported to Great Britain in any year the Ministry of Food pay for each grade a level price the amount of which depends upon the total quantity of eggs we send in that year. Level prices all the year round would not suit conditions in this country and, therefore, while the estimated nett British price which will be eventually received must be taken into consideration, the different prices approved by me from time to time for payment by Eggsports Limited to export firms may not at any particular period of the year correspond to the flat price payable by the Ministry of Food.
Is the Minister prepared to guarantee to the House that there is, in this recent price adjustment, no element of subsidy for some other branch of the agricultural export industry, such as took place in connection with the abatement of the price of eggs, in order to subsidise turkeys, or an abatement in the price of turkeys, in order to subsidise eggs?
There is no intention of that kind.
So this is purely in order to level out the price of eggs?
This took place on the 14th January last year, and it is now the 14th February of this year.
Could the Minister say if there is any deficit?
Yes, there is.
Is it as bad as last year?
I explained that we could not possibly pay the winter price of eggs all the year round. It is possible that we could pay the British price, but that would not suit the producers in this country.
Would the Minister say whether, when the year terminated, there was a credit carry-over or a deficit?
There was a very small credit.
When does the year end?
On the 31st January.