§ Mr. CHARLES EDWARDSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether any information is available as to the total weight of fish caught by British boats, the weight thrown away before landing, the weight landed, and the weight sold for food, in any recent year?
Sir A. BOSCAWENIn the year 1919 515,422 tons of fish were landed by British boats. It is impossible to state precisely what proportion was sold for food, but in the year 1919 less than 2 per cent. of the fish delivered at Billingsgate was condemned. The Ministry of Food has obtained for the Departmental Committee on the Wholesale Food Markets of London particulars of the landings and condemnation of fish at all the principal fishing ports in the first four months of the present year. These particulars have been published, and I may perhaps refer the hon. Member to the Report, which is Command Paper 713. The Ministry have no means of ascertaining what quantity of fish, if any, is thrown away at sea.