§ 47. Mr. BRIANTasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the repeated statements that large quantities of fish are destroyed at various fishing ports and harbours owing to the lack of transport facilities and the high cost of transit, he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the whole question of the fish supply in order that the waste of so much valuable food may be prevented?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Sir Robert Sanders)I have been asked to reply. I am aware that considerable quantities of fish have from time to time been destroyed or thrown back into the sea. This rarely occurs at the principal fishing ports, where regular landings take place, but generally happens at the minor fishing stations as a consequence of occasional landings of abnormal quantities or fish such as herring, mackerel, sprats and pilchards. It is not possible to anticipate these events nor is it practicable to prepare adequate transport facilities to cope with them. As regards railway transport, there have been two recent reductions in the rates charged for fish and very few complaints have been received by my Department for some time either that lack of railway facilities or high cost of transit prevents the supply of fish normally landed at the recognised fishing ports from reaching the public. In these circumstances I scarcely think it would be advisable to appoint a Committee to inquire into this subject.