§ 60. Sir J. D. REESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether 90,000 barrels of pickled herrings are about to be exported out of the United Kingdom from Stornoway; and, if so, whether such export should be permitted during the present crisis?
§ Captain Viscount WOLMER(representing the War Trade Department): I understand that there are approximately 90,000 barrels of pickled herrings in Stornoway representing the winter catch. Licences for their export from the United Kingdom have not yet been granted, and will not be as long as there is any prospect of their being consumed at home. The President of the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries has appointed a Committee under the chairmanship of the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire, part of whose task will be to encourage the home consumption of such fish. There has never yet been any demand from the British public for pickled herrings, and if this continues to be the case, it is clear that steps will have to be taken to prevent the local industry from being ruined. It is, therefore, very desirable that every effort should be made to popularise this form of food at home.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGMay I ask whether his attention has been called to the statement made in the papers recently that barrels of pickled herrings on being opened were found to contain bars of aluminium consigned to Holland?
§ Viscount WOLMERThey would not be allowed to go.
§ Mr. WATTWill the hon. Gentleman represent as an attraction of pickled herrings that they give rise to a considerable thirst?