§ 35. Sir John Graham Kerrasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether, in view of the fact that large areas of sea off the West Coast of Scotland are frequently richly charged with plankton, that small-scale experiments show that this is readily converted into nourishing food, and that important advances in our knowledge of plankton have been made at the marine laboratory at Millport, he will consider appointing a committee, equipped with the necessary 422 biological and engineering qualifications, to investigate the practicability of large-scale collection of plankton by mechanical separators?
Major Lloyd GeorgeI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his previous Question on this subject on nth March, in which I indicated that it is not economically practicable to obtain food from this source. In reply to the last part of the Question, I would remind my hon. Friend that committees already exist competent to give further examination to this matter if it were considered desirable.
§ Mr. R. GibsonIs not the normal use of plankton to provide food for fish and consequently the immediate supply of food for human consumption is the fish that feed on the plankton?
Major Lloyd GeorgeIt is a very difficult thing to catch plankton, and as fish feed on it, it is more economical to catch the fish and thus get both.