HC Deb 18 October 1950 vol 478 cc2044-5
53. Sir W. Darling

asked the Minister of Food what amount of publicity has been spent on brislings and herrings, respectively, in the last three months or convenient comparable period.

The Minister of Food (Mr. Maurice Webb)

During the three months ended on 11th August, we spent approximately £10,000 on advertising brislings. I cannot say what was spent on publicity for herrings, since this is the responsibility of the industry. My Department gives publicity to herrings as part of its general advice on food, but the cost could not be estimated without a special inquiry.

Sir W. Darling

Am I right in believing that brislings are entirely an imported commodity and that herrings are a British commodity? If so, should not the preference be the other way?

Mr. Webb

There is quite a large amount of home canned brisling. We have been very careful, in the advertisements, to refer to brisling generally and not to imported brislings. We have reason to believe that we have helped the home canning trade.

Mr. C. S. Taylor

Could not the publicity be left to the industry also?