HC Deb 20 December 1937 vol 330 cc1589-90
23. Mr. De la Bère

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether in view of the large quantity of fish which is destroyed or thrown back into the sea, the Government will consider setting up a factory for the production of fish meal to enable the poultry-keepers to obtain a supply of this feeding-stuff at a reasonable figure, seeing that the difficulties of the poultry-keepers may, to a large extent, be attributed to the high cost of feeding-stuffs?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

There are already factories for the production of fish meal at a number of the leading fishing ports. The quantity of fish that is destroyed or thrown back into the sea represents an extremely small percentage of total landings, and the greater part of this occurs at ports where supplies would, in any case, be wholly inadequate to make economic the establishment of a factory to deal with surplus landings.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware of the real plight of the poultry-keepers throughout this country, and that Evesham way they are very exercised over this matter?

Mr. Morrison

I am aware of the plight of poultry-keepers, but I would point out to my hon. Friend that fish meal can be used only in very small proportions in the ordinary poultry rations, and that other ingredients very largely add to the costs.

Mr. De la Bère

Is my right hon. Friend aware that every little helps?

Mr. H. Morrison

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is a curious commentary upon the economic system that good fish should be wilfully destroyed?

Mr. Morrison

The matter must not be exaggerated. If you take into account the landings of white fish into this country up to the last months of this year, the amount thrown back amounted to only .004 per cent. The position in Scotland as regards herring is rather different, but even there the amount destroyed was only 1½ per cent. of the total landings.

Miss Wilkinson

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the quantities and not the percentages?

Mr. Morrison

I have them, and if the hon. Lady cares to put down a question, I will give the quantities from which these answers were produced.