§ 39. Mr. HUGH LAWasked the Vice-President of the Department of Agriculture (Ireland) whether any stops, such as those announced by the Board of Agriculture in England, are being taken by his Department with respect to the preservation and increase of the supply of fish from sea and inland waters?
§ 69. Colonel ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will endeavour to improve the facilities for the transport of fish from the coasts of Scotland in order to help the fishermen and to supplement the food of the people?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of TRADE (Mr. G. Roberts)I can only assure the hon. and gallant Gentleman that the Board of Trade realise fully the importance of this question, which is, I understand, being considered by the Fishery Board for Scotland in consultation with the railway companies concerned.
§ 72. Mr. EUGENE WASONasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now heard from the Railway Executive Committee as to whether they intend to insist on the prepayment of fish by passenger train; and what action he proposes to take in this matter?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThis matter is being considered by the Railway Executive Committee, and I am unable to give a definite answer at the present moment.
§ Mr. WASONI will put down the question again for Monday, and unless I receive a satisfactory reply I shall call attention to this question on the Motion for the Adjournment.
76. Mr. LEICESTER HARMSWORTHasked the Secretary for Scotland if he will say what steps are being taken by his Department to assist Scottish fishermen to increase the supplies of fish; and whether he proposes to render available for the home market cured fish normally exported?
§ The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. Munro)The steps taken are mainly in the direction, first, of securing the greatest possible opportunities for fishing consistently with naval interests; and, secondly, of organising the available resources in vessels and men so that a maximum of catching power may be brought to bear within the limits authorised from time to time by the naval authorities. For reasons which my hon. Friend will appreciate, I cannot enter into details. It is the fact that the total landings in Scotland in 1917 down to the present date greatly exceed those in the corresponding period of 1916. The question whether existing stocks of cured fish should be retained in this country is primarily one for the Food Controller; and as regards future catches, particularly in connection with the great summer herring fishing, everything possible will be done so far as I am concerned to meet the requirements of the home market.
§ Mr. E. WASONMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether he will lend his assistance in seeing that the Board of Trade do not insist upon prepayment for the carriage of fish, which will injure very seriously the carriage of fish from Scotland to this country?