HC Deb 01 March 1948 vol 448 c2W
7. Mr. Osborne

asked the Minister of Food why extensive purchases of fish are being made in Iceland and Norway for delivery to Germany at the British taxpayers' expense, when equally good fish from the Grimsby market is being made into cattle and poultry food because it cannot be sold for human consumption; and why this Grimsby fish is not being exported to Germany.

Dr. Summerskill

The available surplus of British caught fish is far from sufficient for this purpose. Arrangements have been made in each of the last three years to send large quantities of British caught herring to Germany, and proposals for 1948 are now being considered. My right hon. Friend will also be willing to discuss with trawler owners the possibility of sending regular supplies of British caught white fish on terms comparable with those arranged for the Norwegian and Icelandic fish.