asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that troops quartered at Bulford camp are supplied with eggs imported from Denmark and Finland; and whether he will take steps to ensure that home-produced eggs only are supplied to the troops in future?

Eggs do not form part of the soldier's ration. The eggs on sale to the troops in the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes at Bulford and elsewhere are home, Empire and foreign, and I cannot prevent the troops and their families from buying foreign eggs if they wish to do so.

Will the War Office encourage the Institutes to supply English eggs only, and not supply foreign eggs?

We give every encouragement possible for home eggs to be sold.

Will the right hon. Gentleman see that no steps are taken to interfere with the liberty of the soldier to buy whatever eggs he cares to buy?

That is true. If the canteen did not stock foreign eggs, the only effect would be that the families would go outside to purchase their supplies of such eggs. We cannot prevent them from purchasing foreign eggs if they so desire.

Cannot the War Office help the farmers by giving the soldiers eggs for breakfast?