§ 29. Mr. COWANasked the Secretary for Scotland whether he can state why, in appointing a Departmental Committee to investigate the conditions of inshore fisheries, the Fishery Board for Scotland limited the scope of such inquiry to the west and north coasts and outer islands of Scotland; and whether he will take steps to secure the extension of the remit to the Committee so as to include the investigation of the equally serious condition of inshore fisheries on the east coast of Scotland?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs I explained in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Banffshire n the 7th instant, the Committee referred to was not appointed by me, but was appointed by the Fishery Board for Scotland, and 1694 consists of members of the Board and its staff. The purpose of the Committee is to investigate questions such as transport facilities and the marketing of certain classes of fish, in regard to which the inshore fisheries of the west and north coasts and of the outer islands are conducted under special disadvantages. On the east coast, as my hon. Friend is aware, the deep-sea herring fishery is the main fishery, but if there are special points in connection with the inshore fisheries which require investigation, the Fishery Board will be prepared to consider any representation regarding them.
§ Mr. COWANDoes the scope of this Committee's inquiry include the granting of State loans to fishermen?