§ 32. Mr. HAYESasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that 20,000 stone of fish, principally hake, whiting, and bream, brought into the port of Fleetwood, Lancashire, have been consigned to fish-meal works because it was impossible to find buyers at 4d. per stone; and whether, in view of the shortage of food, particularly in the mining villages and towns of Lancashire, the Government will arrange for the distribution to the areas in question of such fish as may be surplus to the requirements of ordinary buyers?
§ Sir B. CHADWICKI am aware that considerable quantities of fish are occasionally consigned to Fish Meal Works from the Port of Fleetwood. Such consignments take place when the landings for that port are abnormally large and the fish is of an inferior description. I am informed that 10,000 of the 20,000 stone mentioned by the hon. Member had been condemned as unfit for human consumption. With regard to the latter part of the question, I regret that it is not possible to set up an organisation to deal with the distribution of occasional surpluses of fish at "glut" periods.
§ Mr. HAYESIn view of the fact that the fish would not have been condemned, in all probability, had it been despatched on being landed, and that 20,000 stone of fish would represent about 300,000 square meals for people in need of them in Lancashire, cannot the Government do something to prevent the fishermen's labour from being wasted?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYIs it not the fact that if the policy of the hon. Gentleman, the Secretary to the Overseas Department, of developing the export trade in fish to Italy and other Continental countries, had been adopted, there would have been no glut, such as has been mentioned?
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the occurrence referred to is a common occurrence, and that the disparity in the price paid by the purchaser and the price paid by the consumer is greater than—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member is putting a speech into a question.