§ Sir W. Waylandasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food why cured and smoked fish, with the exception of red herring, have disappeared from Kent since the Food Ministry undertook the distribution of fish?
§ Mr. MabaneThe present shortage of kippers and bloaters is due mainly to the fact that the summer herring fishing season finished in September, and the winter fishing season is only just commencing. Red herrings, being made chiefly from pickled herrings which can be kept for a long period, can be produced at any time and may consequently be on sale when fresh herrings are scarce. The demand from the public for red herrings is small, and supplies are on offer almost continuously in some districts. Supplies of smoked haddocks and other smoked white fish depend upon landings of the fresh fish at the curing centres. Such landings have been below normal in recent weeks. I may add that my Department does not control the distribution of herrings and kippers.