HC Deb 25 January 1940 vol 356 c812W
Captain Pluģģe

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in view of the necessity during war-time of preventing the wastage of all home-produced foodstuffs, what plans he proposes to adopt to ensure the placing in cold storage of any surplus of herring and other fish occurring through the glut during the season May to November, as well as of apples and other fruit; and whether he is aware that in both cases there was great wastage during 1939 as a result of the lack of proper appreciation of the potentialities of cold storage?

Mr. Lennox-Boyd

The greater part of the cold storage space in the country is needed for imported meat, butter and bacon. Steps are being taken to increase storage facilities for these commodities. The cold stores at present being used for fish are adequate to meet present needs, and it is unlikely that there will be a large surplus of fish under existing conditions. I do not think that it would be economic, at the present time, to use steel and other essential materials for building additional stores specially adapted for the storage of fruit.