asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the terms of the trade agreement made in 1943 governing the export of eggs from this country to Great Britain and the terms of the proposed agreement for 1946.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Egg Exports to Great Britain.
The terms of the 1943 agreement as modified for 1945 and 1946 were those common to contracts for purchase and sale, but they provided, in addition, a sliding scale by which the price to be paid was related to the quantity of eggs exported. The lowest price was 24/9 per gt. hhd. for specials and standards (2/6 per gt. hhd. less for other grades) if export did not exceed 1,687,500 gt. hhd. Prices increased by successive steps to 29/- and 26/6 per gt. hhd., respectively, for an export of not less that 2,062,500 gt. hhds.
The terms of the contract proposed for 1947 and subsequent years comprise:—
(a) the purchase by the Ministry of Food in 1947 of the exportable surplus on the terms and prices applying to 1946;
(b) subject to the exportable surplus in 1947 reaching 2,062,500 gt. hhds., the purchase by the Ministry, as a minimum in 1948, of the quantity exported in 1947 on the terms and prices applying to 1946;
(c) the purchase, as a minimum, in 1949 of a quantity equal to the average of exports in 1947 and 1948 at a price not less than 20/- per gt. hhd. for specials and standards (2/6 per gt. hhd. less for lower grades); the price for 1949 to be open to discussion at the request of my Department at any time between September, 1947, and September, 1948; failing agreement on price, my Department to have the option of accepting the price mentioned or of refraining from any commitments as to supplies in 1949;
(d) should the quantity delivered in 1947 fall short of 2,062,500 gt. hhds. the Ministry to be released from its engagements regarding purchase in the two subsequent years.
Am I to take it then that the price offered in the agreement is no better than that offered in the 1943 agreement?
No, it is the same sliding scale.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state whether the gross export of eggs for last year fell short of the maximum amount envisaged by the 1943 agreement; and if so, how such shortage affected prices.
The export of eggs in the period 1st February, 1945, to the 31st January, 1946, was less by 290,000 gt. hhds. than the quantity which would qualify for the highest price provided in the agreement. The failure to reach that quantity resulted in the price received being less by 3/9 per gt. hhd. than the highest price obtainable.
Does the Minister hope to bridge that gap in the coming year?
I hope to, but I do not expect to.
Will the Minister say why he does not expect to bridge the gap?
Relying on the experience of the last two or three years.
Has he taken any steps to see that the gap is bridged?
We have indeed.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will state the aggregate sum provided by way of egg subsidy, from deductions made from the price of turkeys exported last season; and what amount now remains in the fund.
I would refer the Deputy to the information given in my reply to a similar question by Deputy O'Driscoll on 17th July, 1946.
Will I find the information as to the residue that is at present in the fund? That is of importance in view of what happened recently.
He did not notice that part of the question.
It was not convenient for him. What is in the fund at present?
The Deputy will have to come back for that if he does not find it there. I am not sure.
The most important information so far as I am concerned was asked for in the latter part of the question which the Minister overlooked.
I cannot say for certain.
The answer given six months ago would not tell what is in the fund now.
If I repeat the question, I presume I will get the information?
Yes.