§ 47. Mr. Douglasasked the Minister of Food what arrangements he has made to ensure that catches of herring for which there is no possibility of immediate sale fresh shall be kippered and not wasted.
§ The Minister of Food(Colonel Llewellin)All possible arrangements have been made to kipper any herrings that cannot be sold fresh to the full capacity of the smokehouses.
§ Mr. DouglasIn view of the reduction in the quantity of protein-containing foods, is it not important to increase the supply of fish?
§ Colonel LlewellinYes, Sir, most important.
§ Mr. LoftusWill my right hon. and gallant Friend make representations to the Admiralty to release, before October, the buildings and grounds at Lowestoft and Yarmouth which are required for kippering the large herring catch?
§ Colonel LlewellinThat is a question which should be put to my right hon. Friend the First Lord of the Admiralty.
§ 48. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Food whether he will take the necessary steps to improve the distribution of fish in the rural areas of the North Riding of Yorkshire.
§ Colonel LlewellinYes, Sir, so far as I can.
§ Mr. TurtonIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that rural areas suffer a great disadvantage compared to urban areas in the matter of fish distribution, because they have no fish shops? Will he make representations to his colleagues that travelling fish merchants should have every facility to make fish rounds?
§ Colonel LlewellinIf it is merely a question of getting a fish licence, in any area where there is a consumer need there would be very little difficulty in getting a licence from my Department to sell fish.
49. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that John Donnelly, of 211, Hilton Road, Sunderland, is hawking herring in the township of Crook, and travelling over 40 miles each day to do this work; and if he will arrange for a better distribution of herring in the Crook area and thus cut out this waste of time and petrol.
§ Colonel LlewellinThis man is carrying out useful work in distributing fish, and I see no reason to put him out of a job.
Mr. MurrayIs the Minister aware that business men in Crook cannot understand why a man should be allowed to travel 40 miles to sell fish on their doorsteps, when they are already selling fish?
§ Colonel LlewellinI like to see fish sold on doorsteps if we can get the facilities to do it.
Mr. MurrayBut is not the Minister aware that this man is travelling 40 miles to sell fish on the doorsteps of men who are in the trade? [Hon. Members: "Why not?"] Surely the people in business ought to get better distribution which would give them a chance to sell.
§ Colonel LlewellinThis man is also in the trade as a distributor of fish. In regard to other facilities there, there are one fishmonger, 11 fish fryers, and nine fishmonger fryers to serve the Crook and Willingdon area, so there are plenty of "inlets" for fish.
§ Mr. A. BevanWill the Minister make the amenities of Crook available to the whole country?