§ 18. Mr. Hurdasked the Minister of Food how the current supply of fish meal for animal feeding compares with the prewar supply; and what action he is taking to ensure an increased supply of this feedingstuff needed to balance cereals now more freely available for pig and poultry feeding.
§ Mr. StracheyHome production of fish meal for animal feeding in the first nine months of this year was about 42,000 tons, which is nearly 3,000 tons more than in the same period last year. Production before the war was about 70,000 tons in a full year. All the fish waste possible is being used for fish meal.
§ Mr. HurdIs the Minister aware that the supply of proteins such as fish meal has now become the crux of the feeding-stuffs problem, and that if he wishes to 1665 maintain the bacon ration at 4 oz he will have to find more fish meal and other proteins?
§ Mr. StracheyI agree that fish meal is of great importance and production is steadily rising towards the pre-war level.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyDoes not the Minister realise that he could have increased this production if he had insisted on white fish being landed with heads on instead of with heads off?
§ Mr. StracheyAs the House is aware, the control of fish will come to an end in the spring, and the economic price should then induce the landing of fish with heads on.
§ Mr. HoggWhy has so small a proportion of the herring catches been used for this purpose? If herring have to be exported, surely it would be better to use more for this purpose?
§ Mr. StracheyI do not think that we could prohibit the export trade in klondyked and other processed herring, which is a traditional and important export of this country.