§ 52. Mr. Leslieasked the Minister of Food whether he has considered the petition from the Heighington Women's Institute and others, drawing his attention to the fact that there has been no fish in Heighington since Good Friday 1940; and what action will he take to see that this village of over 1,000 people shall be no longer deprived of fish supplies.
§ The Minister of Food (Colonel Llewellin)Yes, Sir. The only supplier in in the village closed through lack of support early in 1940 and I presume that between that time and September 1941—the end of the qualifying period for allocation to fishmongers and fish-friers—fish was obtained from nearby towns. I doubt whether I should be justified in depriving traders in these towns of a part of their supplies to enable a shop to be re-opened in this village.
§ Mr. LeslieIs the Minister aware that the reply given to the people of the village was that it was because the man who formerly supplied fish had died? As a man is now available, why should the people of this village have to go to Darlington and other places for fish? Surely when a man is available he ought to get the available supplies.
§ Colonel LlewellinThe allocation of fish is made in sub-zones throughout the country and this village is in the Darlington district sub-zone. It is quite true that if there had been a fishmonger or a fish frier there at the datum period the village would have got its supplies of fish. If my hon. Friend would like to discuss it with me and there really is a good case for opening a fish shop in this village, Which will mean depriving other traders of some of their supplies, I will look into it.
53. Mr. Hiģģsasked the Minister of Food if he is aware of the shortage of fish supplies in the Birmingham district; and what steps he is taking to increase these supplies.
§ Colonel LlewellinI am investigating this matter and will write to my hon. Friend shortly.
Mr. HiģģsIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that the fish famine in Birmingham is more acute than ever and that the zoning system acts very unfairly?
§ Colonel LlewellinI would not call it a fish famine. Unfortunately in the last month Birmingham has not got its full allocation, and I am looking into it with a view to remedying it. In November, however, it got 2 per cent. more than its allocation.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIs not the situation due to the fact that the Government have pursued the wrong industrial policy and have transferred hundreds of people to Birmingham instead of bringing work to the people?
§ Mr. BowlesWhat is a fish frier supposed to do with his fat, when he cannot use it owing to fish not being available?
§ Colonel LlewellinThat is a different question.
§ Mr. Evelyn WalkdenDoes not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman recognise that it is now necessary to reorganise the zoning scheme in view of the fact that many areas cannot get supplies of fish and that advantages obtain in other areas? Cannot the scheme be related to mouths to be fed?
§ Colonel LlewellinThat is what the scheme is based on. The supplies are distributed on a population basis according to the number of sugar registrations in each district. It is impossible with the pressure on our inland transport to get rid of the zoning scheme.
§ Mr. McGovernIs the Minister aware that almost every month Glasgow Health Department give a list of hundreds of tons of fish destroyed in Glasgow, and will he look into it?
§ Colonel LlewellinI would certainly like to look into that and perhaps my hon. Friend will give me particulars.
§ Sir William WaylandWould it not be better to return to distribution by the wholesalers who, before the Food Ministry undertook this work, were efficiently distributing fish all over the country?