HC Deb 25 July 1949 vol 467 cc1790-1
11. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Minister of Food what experiments he has made to discover the comparative values, respectively, as a delicacy and nutritionally of the various parts of the whale suitable for human consumption; and what conclusions he has reached.

Mr. Strachey

Both the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and my Department have been interested for some time in developing the potentially large supplies of meat from whales caught by the whaling expeditions. In the past three seasons Government research workers have accompanied expeditions to the Antarctic. Many palatability tests have been made both in the laboratories of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research and in the experimental kitchens of my Department. The results indicate that whale meat frozen or processed soon after the whale is killed can be of excellent quality. In the major nutrients and vitamins whale meat is approximately equivalent to beef.

Air-Commodore Harvey

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what proportion of the whale goes to manure?

Mr. Strachey

I could not say without notice.

Mr. Beswick

Can my right hon. Friend say whether either the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research or his own Department have been able to discover from which part of the mammal a steak is taken?

Mr. David Renton

Who conducts these palatability tests, and do they have a "whale of a time?"

Mr. Strachey

I have conducted one myself with considerable pleasure.

Brigadier Head

How about a "Minister for Whales?"