§ 9. Mr. MORTONasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware of the quantity of herring that under ordinary circumstances would have been exported to Norway, and whose ultimate destination would have been Germany, and a great portion of which has been held back from patriotic motives, still in the hands of the curers which should be made use of shortly if the curers are not to be saddled with loss; and whether the Government can see their way to make use of them in providing food for the Services and for prisoners and refugees, or by some other adequate means?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)I am aware that the curers have on hand stocks of cured herrings, most of which would normally have been exported to Germany or Russia, and I have lost no opportunity of bringing before the Departments concerned suggestions as to the desirability of utilising them, if found possible, in some of the ways proposed by my hon. Friend. I am not, however, as yet in a position to add anything to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War on the 22nd February.
Mr. CATHCART WASONMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman is aware that the concession which has been granted to the herring shipped to Norway is now practically useless, as there is practically no market?
§ Mr. HOGGECan my right hon. Friend say when he will be in a position to state the result of the experiment which is being tried by his right hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for War?