asked the Minister of Food whether he is aware that many tons of sprats were thrown back into the sea at Dungeness last season owing to the ban imposed upon fishermen hawking them in the surrounding locality, although the residents in the district rarely get the chance of purchasing fish of any kind; and whether he will remove the ban before the next season begins.

I am not aware that any dumping of sprats took place last season at Dungeness. Any fisherman may apply to the local Food Control Committee for a licence to retail fish and, if he has hawked fish before, a licence will generally be granted.