§ 56. Captain Lyonsasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his attention has been called to the dumping into the sea at a northern port, about 17th June, of a large catch of herring; what are the circumstances of the incident; why no steps were taken to acquire the fish by the Ministry; why no action was taken by the local food committee to obtain the fish for distribution; and what instructions have been given to prevent any further similar waste of foodstuffs?
Major Lloyd GeorgeThe fish in question was in such poor condition that it could not be marketed or pickled for future use. Had the vessels concerned landed their catch at the usual ports the difficulty would not have arisen, and the attention of the owners' association is being drawn to this point.
§ Captain LyonsWas the whole of this fish unusable?
Major Lloyd GeorgeMuch was unusable, but the public were allowed to take away free of charge as many of the edible fish as they wished.
§ Mr. Malcolm MacMillanIs the Minister aware that some of the fishermen said that the fish had been distributed locally, when a lot of it might have been used?