§ Mr. CROFTasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the funds allotted for fisheries development (under the Development Funds Act, 1909) are granted to suit the requirements of the English coast as a whole, or whether the local needs of the several district committees are taken into consideration?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The requirements of the English coast as a whole and the local needs of the several district committees are so intimately connected that the distinction suggested in the question cannot, in my opinion, properly be drawn. In the scheme submitted by the Board to the Development Commissioners all the various interests involved have been carefully kept in view. The interim grants which have been approved by the Commissioners and the Treasury will be paid to local committees in aid of work which they will respectively carry on.
§ Mr. CROFTHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the anxious application of the Sea Fisheries Association on the subject?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANYes, I think that has been the only application which has come in from the district committees.