§ 15. Mr. Dayasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instances have been brought to his notice, during the 12 months ended the last convenient date, of food of any description fit for human consumption having been destroyed?
§ Mr. ColvilleI have had no instances brought to my notice beyond those of skimmed milk and herring referred to in 975 the reply given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 22nd November.
§ Mr. DayCan the right hon. Gentleman say with regard to herring when he proposes to seek further powers to prevent their destruction?
§ Mr. ColvilleI do not think any difficulty arises from lack of powers. It is a very difficult question to deal with. I would refer the hon. Member to the third annual report of the Herring Industry Board for the year ended 31st March, 1938, where the question of gluts is fully dealt with.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a stage between the use of these products as food and their complete destruction, and that all his answers leave out of account cases in which useful food is used for some inferior purpose at much less price, as, for instance, when fish is used for making fish meal, and it goes to the maker of the meal for one-tenth of the price at which it is sold as food? Will the right hon. Gentleman take that into account in future answers?