§ Mr. W. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture what is the amount spent by the Herring Industry Board since its inauguration in 1935 on advertising the consumption of herring in the United Kingdom; is he aware that up to the reconstitution of the Board by the Act of 1938 this expenditure resulted in fewer herring being consumed in Great Britain than prior to the constitution of the Board; and what action is to be taken to attempt to revive the pre-war trade in salted herring to the Baltic countries?
§ Sir R. Dorman-SmithThe amount spent by the Herring Industry Board in home-market advertising is approximately£61,700 and the Board are satisfied that their propaganda has had a beneficial effect. According to estimates which they have compiled there has been an increase in the home consumption of British caught herrings since the constitution of the Board from 458,000 crans in 1934 to 535,000 crans in 1938.
As regards the improvement of the British trade in salted herrings with the Baltic countries I am informed that representatives of the Board left this country a few days ago for the purpose of exploring the question in those countries.