London Dock Strike (Fish Wastage)

35.

Brigadier Rayner
asked the Minister of Food how much food has gone rotten at the London docks because of the latest strike of dock workers.

Mr. Strachey
12 cwt. of fish.

Brigadier Rayner
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that these successive unofficial strikes affecting food supplies are adding to the prevalent malnutrition, and is he able as the Minister of Food to do anything about it?

Mr. Strachey
No, Sir; in this particular case I am clad to say there was no loss of foodstuffs because of the strike.

Mr. D. Marshall
What about fish?

Mr. Strachey
There was 12 cwt. of fish lost, but that might very easily be lost in the ordinary course of distribution.

Mr. Marshall
May I ask the Minister what was the loss of the carrying capacity in food for importation of those vessels through the delay in their turn-round?

Mr. Speaker
The Question deals with how much food has gone rotten and not with carrying capacity.