asked the Minister of Agriculture whether he will now consider making an order requiring all shell-fish to be cleansed before they are marketed for human food in this country, thus safeguarding the public health and putting all oyster merchants on an equality in respect of hygienic regulations?

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I have considered this question, but we are not satisfied that an Order of so far-reaching a character would be justified. The matter is, however, receiving our attention, and will be the subject of further inquiry.

Has the Minister considered the position of the mussel fishermen in Lancashire whose beds have been condemned and who have to pay cleansing fees in order to market their mussels; and is he fully satisfied that those beds that have not been condemned and from which mussels are being marketed are free from pollution?

It is in order to discover such facts that we are desirous of having further inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, pending the enactment and enforcement of a comprehensive shell-fish cleansing order, he will, in justice to the Brightlingsea oyster merchants and the urban district council of Brightlingsea, who have done valuable pioneer work in providing the means of cleansing oysters, consider the provision of financial assistance to the urban district council whereby the fees for cleansing may be reduced.

The question of giving financial assistance to the Urban District Council of Brightlingsea in respect of the expenditure incurred by them for the purpose of cleansing oysters is under consideration, but I am not in a position to say what assistance, if any, can be given.