§ Mr. Boothbyasked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that the recent fall in the home demand for kippers is mainly due to the deterioration in their quality, 264W owing to insufficient smoking; and whether he will consider introducing legislation to prescribe a minimum period of smoking or, alternatively, to prohibit the use of dye in the processing of kippers.
§ Mr. StracheyI believe that the fall in the home demand for kippers this year is due more to the poor quality of the herrings landed at the Moray Firth ports and to the warm weather than to any general decline in kippering standards. In 1945, my predecessor, Lord Llewellin, set up an Advisory Committee, composed of leading members of the trade and the Chairman of the Herring Industry Board, which examined thoroughly the best means of improving kipper production. They came to the conclusion that little practical good would be achieved by legislation on the lines now suggested by the hon. Member, but that improvement in quality could best be served by continued and rigorous inspection, carried out by officers of my Department. The rise in home consumption which continued until this summer seems to have justified this conclusion, and I see no good reason to abandon the present policy because of a decline, which I hope is only temporary, in the quality of the herrings.