§ 16. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the production of a filleting machine designed to remove all the bones from raw fresh herrings; and what is the result of experiments in producing packaged quick frozen herrings with bones softened by pressure cooking.
§ Mr. J. StuartInvestigations by a private manufacturer into the possibility of devising a filleting machine capable of removing all the bones from raw herring are proceeding, but it is not yet possible to say whether the problem will be solved. The Herring Industry Board intends to carry out further experiments on pressure cooking and packaging in premises at Stornoway which, it is hoped, will be ready by the start of next year's summer fishing season.
§ Mr. DoddsCan the right hon. Gentleman give any more details about this wonderful mechanical herring de-boner? Is it a British machine? Will he also explain why, when it is anticipated that herring will be de-boned in England as well as in Scotland, I have to ask a Scottish Minister to come to England to answer my Question?
§ Mr. StuartI am not quite sure about the answer to the second part of the question. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put a Question on the Order Paper to some Minister, but not to me, and an attempt will be made to provide an answer. There are machines which have been tried. References have recently been made to a Danish machine and a German machine. I assure the hon. Gentleman —I expect he knows it as well as I do—that to devise a machine which will remove all the small bones from a herring is not a very easy matter.
§ Colonel Gomme-DuncanWill not my right hon. Friend agree that experience has shown that by removing the bones from fish before cooking one removes not only most of the nourishment but practically all the flavour as well?