§ Mr. GILLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the application of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee to the Treasury, made on the 8th of July, 1910, for a grant in aid of their scientific and development work in the sea fisheries, and referred to his Department by the Treasury, has been referred to the Development Commissioners; whether the claim to such Commissioners was for a grant for policing purposes or for scientific and development purposes or both; whether the claim on behalf of the latter objects was specially referred to and recommended to the Commissioners; whether the Commissioners have come to a definite decision as to making such grant or otherwise to such joint committee; and whether he will supply the hon. Member for Bolton with a copy of the claim sent by the Board of Agriculture to the Development Commissioners relating to this matter?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The application of the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee was made in respect of fishery research and development work. The Commissioners were informed that the work proposed to be undertaken by the joint committee would come within the 1376 general scheme submitted to them by the Board. No definite decision with regard to that scheme has yet been arrived at, the Board being still in communication with the Commissioners on the subject. Negotiations respecting it are still in progress, and material modifications may have to be made in it before the approval of the Commissioners and the consent of the Treasury are secured. When these negotiations are concluded I shall be glad to lay on the Table of the House copies of the correspondence between the Board and the Commission.