Canned Brisling

HC Deb 24 July 1950 vol 478 cc11-2

14. Miss Irene Ward

asked the Minister of Food what representations he has now received from the herring canning industry protesting against the advertising campaign in favour of imported canned brisling; and what action he proposes to take.

23. Mr. Boothby

asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the herring canners in this country have protested against the advertising by his Department of imported canned brisling; and whether he will now put a stop to it.

Mr. Webb

I have received representations from the chairman of the canning section of the Food Manufacturers Federation and from the Herring Industry Board. I propose to say in my reply that this campaign is for "brislings" in general, not just "imported brislings." It will, therefore, benefit home canners of brislings and also of sild, which are baby herrings. The home canned herring industry will also benefit to some extent because the advertising will remind housewives of the usefulness of all kinds of canned fish at this time of year. The purpose of this brief campaign is to encourage the sale of merchandise already bought by my Department. We obviously cannot undertake campaigns at public expense solely to increase the sale of goods in private hands—that is a matter for private enterprise—but my Department takes every opportunity to emphasise the merits of fish.

Miss Ward

Does the right hon. Gentleman realise that that answer will be received with great condemnation by the Herring Industry Board and the herring canners? Does he really feel that to use the taxpayers' money to subsidise, in the main, imported brislings as against the product of our own herring fisheries, is very helpful to those men who risked their lives for us during the war in minesweepers and the like?

Mr. Webb

In view of the recent mistakes which the Board made about my Department, I await their reproof with calm.

Mr. Walker-Smith

Is it the Minister's view that when his Department buys too much of any commodity it should be subsidised by the taxpayer to get rid of it at the expense of the home producer?