69.
asked the Minister of Food how many tins of brisling, sild and sprats have been bought from Holland and Denmark in recent years; and how many tins he has left unsold.
About 30 million tins. I am unable, for reasons of elementary commercial prudence, to give the figure of unsold stock.
70.
asked the Minister of Food how many tins of foreign brislings, sild and sprats his Department holds; what has been the cost of advertising these sprats; and how much public money has been lost upon bulk purchase of foreign sprats in the last two years.
About £10,000 was spent last year in advertising canned brisling, but this covered brisling generally and did not refer to foreign brisling. I cannot yet say what will be the ultimate financial outcome of these transactions; and in the meantime it would not serve the public interest if I were to give stock figures.