asked the Minister of Food what quantities of herring have been bought from Iceland at a higher price than that paid to Scots fishermen; and to what extent herring have been dumped into the sea owing to low prices paid by his Department.

No herrings have been bought from Iceland in recent years, either by my Department or the Herring Industry Board; or, so far as I know, by the trade. About 190 tons of herrings have been dumped by certain fisheren in 1947 because they would not sell them for the production of herring oil and cattle food. I deeply regret this action, especially as other fishermen have sold nearly 6,000 tons of surplus herrings for reduction into oil and meal.

Could the Minister tell us who are the fishermen dumping these herrings? Are they on the North coast of Scotland?

The East coast.