§ 55. Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food if he is aware that Grimsby merchants who are re-selling imported Icelandic cod in Israel now find they are being undercut in this market by his fish division on information supplied by the private traders; and, in view of the correspondence sent to him, if he will stop this unfair competition.
§ Mr. WebbI know that the Grimsby merchants are having difficulty in selling their stocks of frozen fish, but my Department must be free to dispose of its own stocks to the best advantage of the country. I cannot accept the suggestion that we took an unfair advantage of any information given us, since our own negotiations with the Israeli authorities began well before the meeting mentioned in this correspondence, and our price offer was made without knowledge of any other offers.