§ 58. Mr. WALTER ROCHasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now prepared to amend the recent regulation requiring fish merchants and others engaged in the fish trade in England, Wales, and Ireland to pre-pay the freight on their consignments of fish, and thus give them the same privilege that has been granted to fish merchants in Scotland?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. G. Roberts)I have asked the Railway Executive Committee to give further consideration to this matter in the light of their experience during the last few-months of the working of the regulation referred to, and in this connection to see representatives of the bodies of fish merchants by whom complaint is made.
§ Sir T. WALTERSWill the hon. Gentleman communicate the result of that inquiry?
§ Mr. ROBERTSCertainly.
§ Mr. WINGAre we to understand that means finally that you are not going to grant the privilege which has been granted to Scotland?
§ Mr. ROBERTSI stated in my answer that the Railway Executive are requested to prosecute certain inquiries. When in receipt of the results thereof the question will be reviewed in the light of the information thus acquired.
79. Mr. THORNEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food if he is aware that about 12,000 boxes of red herrings were sent to Messrs. Odam's chemical manure works, Silver-town, in the early part of June which were quite fit for human consumption; if he is aware that a sample of the herrings has been sent to the Food Controller for examination that was obtained from inside the works in question; and if he intends making any inquiries into the causes why the herrings were sent to the works for destruction?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of LABOUR (Mr. Bridgeman)A considerable quantity of red herrings arrived from Holland recently in a very unsatisfactory condition, and were condemned by the market inspector shortly after arrival as unfit for human food. No sample of such 1778 herrings has been sent to the Ministry of Food, but further inquiries will be made into the circumstances of the case referred to.
Mr. THORNEWhen any of these foodstuffs are condemned is a receipt obtained at all from any authority to show that the food is rotten?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANI will ascertain that and let the hon. Gentleman know.
§ Mr. FLAVINIs the hon. Gentleman aware that red herrings come into this country in a preserved or uncured condition, and can he say why they become bad?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANNo, I cannot; but I think it is always better to keep on the safe side.