§ Mr. ROSE (by Private Notice)asked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to recent disturbances in connection with the Fishing Industry at Aberdeen, in which the trawl owners in collusion with the skippers and first hands have refused to continue to work the fishing vessels as a protest against the landing of German catches at that port, thus causing unemployment and distress to many hundred of fishermen and firemen who are wage earners and not profit sharers; that these men, though there is no strike or lock-out, and they have no dispute either with their employers or their officers, have been refused donation benefit by his Department; and will he, under the circumstances, give instructions which will remove an undeserved injustice to a large number of industrious and law-abiding workers?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI am aware of the disturbances to which the hon. Member refers. Claims to unemployment benefit by the men affected were disallowed by the Insurance Officer on the ground that the disqualification under the Trade Dispute Clause applied in their case. This decision has been upheld by the local 874 Court of Referees, and the association to which the men belong has appealed against the decision to the Umpire, whose decision will be final and conclusive. I have no power to give any direction to the Umpire, who is an independent officer appointed by the Crown, but I am making arrangements to have the inquiry expedited with a view to obtaining an early decision.
§ Sir M. BARLOWAs speedily as possible. It usually does not take more than a few days.
§ Mr. MACPHERSON (by Private Notice)asked the Under-Secretary for Health (Scotland) what is the latest information with regard to the fishing strike at Aberdeen, and what steps the Government propose to take?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is not aware that the whole cause of the difficulty is the landing of fish from foreign trawlers and that the German trawler is entitled now to trawl in the Moray Firth while the British or Scottish trawler is not allowed to trawl, and that this is not only unjust, but peculiarly offensive to the fishermen, who did so much for the country in the War?
§ Captain ELLIOTI apologise for my absence. I did not realise that questions were going through so fast.
§ Mr. PRINGLEYou ought to have been here all the time.
§ Captain ELLIOTMy most recent information is that the Town Council of Aberdeen have appointed a special committee who are conferring with the interests concerned in order to consider the possibility of reaching a settlement. The Department concerned are in touch with the situation, but no request for their intervention has been made by the trawl owners, the fishermen, or the buyers as far as I am aware. The police are taking necessary steps to preserve order.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs it necessary for the Government to wait? Is not the situation sufficiently serious for them to take action?
§ Captain ELLIOTThe town council has been considering the matter and has arranged to defer taking action till to-day, Monday. It seemed to be inadvisable to complicate unnecessarily the situation by Government interference where action was proceeding by those principally concerned.
§ Mr. E. HARMSWORTHWill the Government consider bringing in a Bill to prohibit German boats from bringing fish into any port?
§ Captain ELLIOTThat question should be addressed to the Leader of the House.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHMay I address the question to the Leader of the House?