§ 23. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that there are large stocks of cured fish in the hands of the British curers which are unsaleable owing to the markets being satisfied; and whether he will consider Governmental action with a view to purchasing this fish for distribution in the distressed areas, and especially the mining areas?
Mr. GUINNESSI have made inquiries as to the stocks of cured herrings in this country and am assured that, though the stocks are considerable, there is no reason for anticipating that they will not shortly by absorbed by the usual foreign markets. They certainly cannot properly be described as unsaleable. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
§ Mr. MONTAGUEIs it not a fact that large quantities of these herrings have been tipped back into the sea?
Commander WILLIAMSIs my right hon. Friend getting into touch with the Empire Marketing Board with a view to seeing whether a wider distribution of the fish is possible?
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYIs my right hon. Friend aware that the first order to stop buying came from the merchants at Riga, and that the Soviet Government is really the cause of the trouble?
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that Riga is not in Russia now?