§ Colonel Carverasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that the Hull Fish Merchants' Protection Association is circularising its customers asking for further statistics on the distribution of fish to customers; that this is the third compilation of such figures; what is the effect of the proposed changes on distribution; and whether he will ensure that these are the final statistics to be compiled on this subject?
§ Mr. MabaneThe circular in question has been issued by the association after consultation with my Department with a view to obtaining more detailed and re- 1179W liable data as to the quantity of fish sold by primary wholesale fish merchants during the datum period, which, by agreement with the trade, has been adopted as the basis on which entitlements of fish supplies are now determined. This further information is required in order to make the distribution of the present supplies as equitable as possible and will, it is hoped, assist the consideration of complaints by certain traders that they are not receiving the supplies to which they are entitled. If adequate information is elicited by this circular, final adjustments of entitlements should be facilitated.