§ 6. Air Commodore A. V. Harveyasked the Minister of Food the amount of white fish which was unsaleable at Hull and Grimsby during the week commencing Monday, 28th April; and what plans the White Fish Authority have to deal with this problem.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeSome 2,000 tons of edible fish and 100 tons of condemned fish. I understand that the White Fish Authority have not yet formulated any plans for dealing with surplus landings.
§ Air Commodore HarveyIs my right hon. and gallant Friend aware that this situation is brought about mainly through the excessive foreign landings, and, while this fish is acceptable, will he bear in mind that foreign white fish is very welcome in the winter when we require it even more than we do now? Can he say when the White Fish Authority are going to tackle this problem in a business-like way?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThis situation was due to very heavy landings, including foreign fish, and, in addition, a great deal of the fish landed was not of a sufficiently good quality, with the result that it had to be sent to the fish factories. As regards the White Fish Authority, they are considering the problem, as I said in a previous Question, in connection with freezing the surplus.
§ Mr. Maurice WebbWould the Minister try to press the white fish authorities much more? I think there is a great sense of disappointment on both sides of the House that this admirable instrument is not getting on with the job as quickly as one would have expected, and that a little pressure from the right hon. and gallant Gentleman might help.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI will certainly look at that. As regards freezing, the quality of the fish landed that day was unsuitable for deep freezing.
§ 17. Miss Elaine Burtonasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that more than 276,000 stone of fish which did not reach wholesale minimum prices at Hull and Grimsby was left unsold during the week ended 3rd May; and if he will take steps to see that such wastage is avoided in future.
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeThis fish, much of which was of poor quality, was sent to fish meal factories for processing into animal feedingstuffs. I do not regard this as wastage.
§ Miss BurtonIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the fish merchants in that area said that if the wholesale minimum price for 10 stone of cod had been 30s. instead of 40s. this wastage would not have occurred? Will he look into the high prices?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgeI do not know that it is fair to say that, because the minimum price of this particular fish is £2 a kit, whereas the actual cost of catching is nearly £2 15s. or £3. Therefore, the price is below the cost of catching.
§ Miss BurtonMay I ask why, when distributive costs are raised in this House, the party opposite always refuse to do anything about the matter?
§ Major Lloyd GeorgePerhaps the hon. Lady will also answer a question and say why she only refers to prices when they are high and not when they go down.