§ 7. Mr. MATHERSasked the Secretary of State for Scotland particulars of any instances brought to his notice during the last 12 months of food of any description fit for human consumption having been destroyed; whether he will state the reasons in each case for the destruction; whether action was taken under his authority before or since the food was destroyed; and whether it is his intention to seek any further powers he may have found necessary to prevent such waste?
6 (2) the total amount paid out by public assistance committees in Edinburgh and Leith, if possible separately, for the year ended on the latest convenient date and similar information for the preceding five years, showing the number of persons in each period?
§ Sir G. COLLINSAs the answers involve a number of figures I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate them in the OFFICIAL EEPOET.
§ Following are the figures:
§ Sir G. COLLINSAccording to the information possessed by the Scottish Departments concerned, the position in Scotland for the year ended 31st May, 1936, is as follows: Approximately 1,200 tons of herring and 50 tons of other fish were destroyed at ports in Scotland. These amounts represent less than ½ per cent. of the total landings in Scotland, namely, 275,000 tons. The principal reasons were that supply was in excess of market demand, and that the fish was of poor quality. There was also a small quantity of milk which could not be utilised economically on non-school days. I am not aware of any other instances. I have no authority to take any action in the matter. As regards the last part of the question I would refer the hon. Member, so far as fish is concerned, to the answers given to similar questions by the hon. Member for Bradford, Central (Mr. Leach) on 25th May and the right hon. Member for the Western Division of Stirling and Clackmannan (Mr. Johnston) on 26th May.
§ Mr. MATHERSIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied with the position, for example, as it prevailed at Lerwick last 7 Saturday, when 2,500 crans of herring were unsold, when an appeal was made by telegram to the Herring Board and a reply was received after 16 hours, saying that a letter was being sent? The letter will hardly be there now. Does he think that that is a satisfactory way to deal with important foodstuffs, or does he claim that those herring were also of bad quality?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have looked into the matter and have given it consideration this morning. It is not free from difficulty. I assure the hon. Gentleman that the Herring Board is fully alive to the serious consequences of such instances.
§ Mr. T. JOHNSTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the recommendations of the board that so many fishing boats should not be congregated at one port at one time are being disregarded, and does that not necessarily mean gluts of fish at one port while starvation may exist at another?
§ Sir G. COLLINSFrom the information I have—and I speak subject to correction—I gather that the main reason was that there was an exceptionally large catch of fish outside that port on that particular day. It appears to be very difficult for any amount of skilled organisation to overcome that transitory difficulty.
§ Sir ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELMay I ask, while supporting the statement made from the other side by the right hon. Gentleman for West Stirling (Mr. T. Johnston), if the right hon. Gentleman the Secretary of State for Scotland will bring to the notice of the proper authorities the point that it is in any case wrong to allow boats to go to sea to catch immature fish three weeks before the season opens?
§ Mr. LEONARDIn respect to the part of the right hon. Gentleman's reply which dealt with milk, could not some method be devised to distribute the milk on non-school days?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI will bring that point before the Milk Marketing Board.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONWould the right hon. Gentleman answer the question put by the hon. Member for Farnham (Sir A. M. Samuel)?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have already looked into this matter this morning, and I will bring it to the notice of the Herring Industry Board to see what steps can be taken to achieve what we all desire.