§ Sir W. Smilesasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Mr. Coey, of Ballydunin Combes, shipped 50 bags of savoys, value £1 per bag, 90 bags of parsley, value 12s. per bag and five tons of turnips, value £20; that these were loaded on the steamer from Belfast to Glasgow on 22nd March and returned to Belfast on 26th March owing to a dockers' strike in Glasgow and that all these vegetables had to be destroyed; and if he will endeavour to arrange that troops are put on without delay to unload perishable foodstuffs.
§ Mr. StracheyI am informed that these vegetables were shipped on the regular Burns and Laird passenger and mail carrying steamer plying between Belfast and Glasgow, and that the vessel had to return to Belfast to maintain its schedule. No request for assistance was received by my Department from any of the consignees. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has made arrangements to discharge perishable foodstuffs in danger of deterioration, but in present circumstances he can give no promise to handle small quantities of vegetables and similar highly perishable cargo reaching the port.