HC Deb 12 July 1939 vol 349 cc2241-2
54. Mr. Logan

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that there are stored in Liverpool 250,000 cases of Japanese salmon, each case containing 96 tins unlabelled; is this storage intended for emergency rations; and will he see that the tins are labelled with the place of origin before he issues them to the public?

Mr. W. S. Morrison

As my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade stated on 27th June, the Food (Defence Plans) Department has not purchased and has no intention of purchasing any Japanese canned salmon. There is, therefore, no question of the Department issuing Japanese salmon to the public.

Mr. Logan

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these goods are sold in Liverpool, and is he able to confirm the statement made yesterday by the President of the Board of Trade, when he said: where unlabelled tins of foreign produce bear the word 'Can' at the time of importation, they are not released from Customs charge unless an indication of origin is also affixed."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th July, 1939; col. 2075, Vol. 349.] Is it not correct that these cans are there in their millions, and, if they are not Government stores, I want to know what they are doing in Liverpool? I have in my hand a can out of the store?

Mr. Morrison

All that I can say is that none of these cans are mine. If the hon. Gentleman has any question to ask about labelling and marking, that is not a matter for my Department.

Mr. Logan

When I put down this question it was transferred to this particular Department. I hardly thought that that was right and proper on an important question like this. [Laughter.] It is no laughing matter. An erroneous statement was made yesterday by the Minister responsible in this matter, and I want to ask whether —

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member is making a statement.

Mr. Logan

On a point of Order. I wished to put this question to the responsible Minister, and I was told at the Table that it was one for the right hon. Gentleman to answer. I am now getting no answer, and I have incontrovertible evidence that there is a ramp in millions of these tins going on in the City of Liverpool. I want to know, Mr. Speaker, whether I may have the privilege of putting a question to the right and proper Minister now?

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member had better put down another question.