asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he will give an assurance that no fish, fit for consumption, will be destroyed as a result of zoning regulations?

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether he is aware that an acute shortage of fish exists in the Black Country and that Newhaven, Midlothian, has dumped surplus stocks into the sea; and will he take steps to end this state of affairs?

There is no reason to fear that, as a consequence of the regulations contained in my Department's distribution scheme, any fish fit for human consumption will be destroyed. It may, however, be impossible in the case of exceptionally heavy landings of fish of poor quality to avoid the condemnation of certain quantities of fish which cannot be marketed in a condition fit for human consumption. I am not aware that an acute shortage of fish exists in the Black Country. Reports received by my Department indicate that during recent weeks that district has had reasonably adequate supplies.

Has not fish in fact been held up under the zoning regulations until it became unfit for consumption?

I have investigated very carefully the case referred to by the hon. Member for Bilston (Mr. Hannah), and I do not think that the fish that was dumped at Newhaven would ever have been brought to market in a condition fit for human consumption.

Was the "Scotsman" mistaken in saying that fish had been dropped into the sea at Newhaven, and will the hon. Gentleman visit the Black Country and make a personal investigation as to the presence or absence of fish?

The fish was dumped at Newhaven, and at the time of dumping it was unfit for human consumption. With regard to the supply of fish in the Black Country, I am informed that in recent weeks the fishmongers have been able to get all the fish they wanted.

They cannot get it.