§ 53. Mr. Edward Evansasked the Minister of Food the prices of the main categories of fish landed by British vessels in March and October, 1938, paid to producers, and those paid in March and October, 1948, respectively.
§ The Minister of Food (Mr. Strachey)As the reply is rather long I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. EvansCould my right hon. Friend tell me how far any increase or reduction in the prices paid to producers of fish is reflected in retail shops?
§ Mr. StracheyI think that my hon. Friend should await the table of figures. from which he will be able to judge for himself.
§ Following is the table:
| AVERAGE VALUES OF CERTAIN VARIETIES OF FISH LANDED IN ENGLAND AND WALES MARCH AND OCTOBER, 1938 AND 1948 | |||||||||||||
| 1938 | 1948 | ||||||||||||
| Average Value per Stone | Average Value per Stone | Current Maximum Prices for Fish on a first hand Sale | |||||||||||
| March | October | March | October | ||||||||||
| s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | s. | d. | ||||
| Soles | … | 14 | 5 | 21 | 2 | 25 | 4 | 25 | 4 | (Whole) | … | 25 | 5 |
| Halibut (Whole and Headless) | … | 11 | 2 | 10 | 2 | 20 | 4 | 20 | 7 | (Whole) | … | 20 | 6 |
| (Headless) | … | 25 | 11 | ||||||||||
| Plaice | … | 6 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 12 | 3 | 13 | 10 | (Whole) | … | 13 | 10 |
| Hake | … | 4 | 11 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 10 | 11 | 10 | (Whole) | … | 11 | 10 |
| Haddock (Whole and Headless) | … | 1 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 7 | 2 | (Whole) | … | 6 | 0 |
| (Headless) | … | 8 | 4 | ||||||||||
| Cod (Whole and Headless) | … | 1 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 6 | 1 | (Whole) | … | 4 | 9 |
| (Headless) | … | 6 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Ray and Skate (Whole and Wings) | … | 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 7 | (Whole) | … | 5 | 3 |
| (Wings) | … | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||
| Saithe (Whole and Headless) | … | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 3 | (Whole) | … | 3 | 6 |
| (Headless) | … | 4 | 7 | ||||||||||
| Herrings | … | 0 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 2½ |
§ NOTES.—(i) From information issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries showing quantities landed in England and Wales at landed weight and value realised. Similar information for Scotland, from the Scottish Home Department, is not included in the above table because quantities landed in Scotland are issued on a different basis, i.e. at the equivalent whole fish weight. Therefore, an estimate of the average value per stone could appear to indicate that lower prices were realised. Scottish figures are, however, available if required.
§ (ii) Average values are to the nearest penny.
§ (iii) In October quantities of herrings are taken for export processing at reduced prices.