§ Sir T. Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he can make any statement as to the recent destruction of a quantity of rish which was unmarketable; whether he is satisfied that the present system of distribution is adequate to deal with sudden gluts, and if not, will he consult with the trade as to the possibility of improving the arrangements?
§ 85. Mr. Stokesasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that of a catch of 5,000 bushels of sprats recently landed at Brightlingsea, 3,000 bushels were thrown back into the sea or sold as manure; and whether he will give immediate instructions that food of any description is not to be destroyed until everyone has enough?
§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he has considered the serious waste of food occasioned by the dumping of herring in the Clyde; and whether he will consider, in conjunction with other Government Departments, the utilisation of the catches of the Clyde fishermen in the interest of the community as a whole and also of these fishermen?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am informed that since I replied to a similar question put to me by the hon. Member for Greenock (Mr. R. Gibson) on 8th November, there have been small quantities of unsaleable herring landed in the Clyde and at Aberdeen. In each of these cases the fish were undersized and of poor quality. The only other recent case of an unmarketable catch which I have been able to ascertain is that referred to in the question of the hon. Member for Ipswich (Mr. Stokes). In that case the reason for the destruction of a large part of the catch is said to have been inadequate transport facilities. I am in consultation with the Departments and trade interests concerned, with a view to ascertaining to what extent such difficulties exist generally and whether any practicable remedies can be devised.