§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department the quantity of cured herrings from Scotland exported during 1335W the year 1923 to Russia and other Continental markets, giving the quantity and value exported to each country?
§ Mr. LUNNAccording to information supplied by the Fishery Board for Scotland, the quantities of cured herrings exported direct from Scotland and consigned to European countries in 1923 were as follow:
Consigned to. Barrels. Germany 262,615½ Danzig 231,685½ Latvia. 145,688½ Esthonia 53,819½ Finland 31,590 Sweden 25,223½ Other countries 21,225 771,847½ No cured herrings appear to have been consigned direct from Scotland to Russia during 1923. The value for each country cannot at present be stated separately, but it may be mentioned that the total Scottish cure, amounting to 796,294 barrels, was valued at £1,113,064. A barrel of cured herrings weighs approximately 2 cwt.
§ Mr. MILLARasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Overseas Trade Department what steps have been taken to secure the reopening of the Continental markets for Scottish cured herrings and to obtain further outlets for this trade; and whether, following upon the recognition of the Soviet Government in Russia, any arrangements will be made for the development of the export trade in cured herrings to that country?
§ Mr. LUNNThe causes of the collapse of the European market for Scottish cured herrings are not of a kind which it is within the power of His Majesty's Government directly to remedy, since they must be sought in the reduced purchasing power of the countries concerned, especially Germany and Russia. Pending the economic revival of those countries, everything is being done to find other outlets, and any information of value to the industry is immediately communicated to it, as it is received from British officers abroad. As regards the last part of the question, I may refer the hon. Member to the answer given to-day by1336W my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for the Brigg Division of Lincolnshire (Sir B. Sheffield).