§ Colonel Carverasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether Icelandic trawlers have agreed to discharge their cargoes at East Coast ports under the new Fish Distributive Zoning Scheme?
§ Mr. MabaneAn agreement has been reached with the Icelandic Government for a partial change in the ports of landing, in the United Kingdom, of Icelandic trawlers, and it is anticipated that the Icelandic vessels now fishing will land their catches in accordance with the new arrangements.
Mr. Rostron Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether the minimum size limit for the sale of sea fish has been raised from seven inches, the size limit fixed in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 957, to nine inches, the size specified in Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 2102, for reasons of marketing and trade or from a desire to protect the fishing grounds from being unduly depleted?
§ Mr. MabaneThe minimum length below which certain classes of fish may not be offered for sale for human consumption was increased from seven inches to nine inches chiefly because of the limited food value and the difficulties entailed in marketing these small fish. The operation of the amended Order is being carefully watched.
Mr. Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that there is at present a great demand, especially in the large industrial areas in the North, for flat fish which weigh from four to five to the 55W pound; and whether he will consider meeting this demand for cheap sea fish by permitting the sale of flat fish from eight inches in length upwards?
§ Mr. MabaneWhile there may be some measure of food value in certain species of flat fish of eight inches in length, my Noble Friend does not consider that this constitutes sufficient ground for relaxing the existing Regulation which prescribes a general minimum limit of nine inches for fish which may be offered for human consumption.
Mr. Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that wholesale fish merchants in Manchester, who formerly received supplies from other ports, are not receiving a fair share of either quality or quantity from Fleetwood; and will be take the necessary steps to remedy this, including opening Milford Haven to Manchester, as there is a surplus supply at this port?
§ Mr. MabaneFrom the information available to my Department it would appear that the Manchester market during the first six weeks of the operation of the Distribution Scheme received its appropriate share of the total quantity of fish landed during that same period. As this market is now restricted to supplies from one port it may not now be getting such a wide variety of fish as under conditions of free sale but this restriction is a necessary accompaniment of the economy in transport which the scheme has achieved. I regret that I am unable to adopt the suggestion made for extending the sources of supply to the Manchester market.
Mr. Duckworthasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food what was the reason for selecting nine inches as the minimum size limit for the sale of sea fish, in view of the fact that flat fish such as plaice, dabs and flounders have a definite food value between eight and nine inches in length?
§ Mr. MabaneI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his other Question on this matter.
§ Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food under what authority the London Fish Distribution Committee, of Subscription Rooms, Billingsgate Market, E.C.3, 56W is constituted; and what powers this committee possesses to transfer the customers of one fish-salesman to another?
§ Mr. MabaneI would refer the hon. Member to the provisions of Articles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the Fish (Distribution) Order, 1942, Statutory Rules and Orders, 1942, No. 1982.