§ 43. Sir J. Henderson-Stewartasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, with a view to encouraging the greater consumption of fish in this country and absorbing the excess landings of the trawler industry, he will take steps to assist the movement to encourage the public of this country to buy and serve fish on Tuesdays as well as Fridays.
§ Mr. GodberIt is for the interests directly concerned to promote a campaign of this kind. Both the White Fish Authority and the industry have been conducting valuable publicity to increase the consumption of fish, and my right hon. Friend welcomes the enterprise and initiative of the industry to this end.
§ Sir J. Henderson-StewartMay I take it that that Answer really means that the Minister quite approves of this idea of a Tuesday fish day?
§ Mr. GodberOnly on Tuesday this week I attended the annual dinner of the Fishmongers' Company, where I corn-mended it. I shall be glad to send my hon. Friend a copy of the text of my speech, if he will do me the honour of reading it.
§ Mrs. MannThe only result of propagating a Tuesday fish day as well as a Friday one will be to increase the cost. Is the hon. Member further aware that because so many people buy fish on Friday, the prices are, without any consultation with the little fishes, always made higher then, because of the 364 demand? Does he now intend to make the prices higher on Tuesdays as well as on Fridays?
§ Mr. GodberI do not think that that follows at all. I would say that in any case there are always adequate supplies on Tuesdays, as a result of the catches over the weekend. I should not have thought that there was any tendency to raise prices in such a way.