§ 6. Mr. BURNETTasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will issue instructions to the accountant officers in ships, etc., victualled on the general mess system, for the purchase of a reasonable quantity of British-caught fish?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Lord Stanley)Accountant officers of ships victualled on the general mess system are instructed to introduce as much variety into the dietary as possible, and fish appears frequently in the daily menus. The fish are bought on the open market, and in home waters there is no reason to suppose that they are other than British caught. As accountant officers of general 351 mess ships are limited in their expenditure to a fixed daily allowance per man, it would not be expedient to introduce any rule of the kind suggested by the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BURNETTWill the Noble Lord, as far as possible, impress upon those concerned the importance of the fishing industry to the nation and the nutritious quality of a fish diet?
§ 43. Mr. BURNETTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in the next tenders for Army rations, quotations will he invited for British-caught fish?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)No, Sir. I am not prepared to substitute fish for meat in the soldier's standard ration. Fish is purchased by units out of the messing cash allowance which is issued with the object of enabling the messing authorities to provide a varied diet.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYWhy is not the hon. Gentleman prepared to include fish?
§ Mr. COOPERI do not think that it would be popular to replace meat by fish as a standard ration.