§ 30. Mr. FOOTasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the complaints of West Country fishermen in respect of their loss of gear owing to the large number of wrecks lying on the sea-bottom in the English Channel; and if he is able to make any proposal for assistance towards these losses?
33. Commander WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is yet in a position to be able to announce a policy of insurance of gear for those fishermen whose losses off the south coast of Devon and Cornwall have been so great because of the War wrecks?
§ The MINISTER of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Noel Buxton)I am well aware of the difficulties to which the questions refer, and have seriously considered the various proposals for alleviating them which have been put forward from time to time. I regret, however, that I have been unable to discover any practical means by which the Government could give assistance to the fishermen in the matter of losses of gear through contact with wrecks.
§ Mr. FOOTWould the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to receive a deputation representing the West Country fishermen on this important matter?
Commander WILLIAMSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he has yet come to a conclusion in answer to a deputation which was received by the Minister on this matter only a short time ago?
§ Mr. BUXTONNo deputation has been received by me, but I searched the records for any proposals, and I did not find any that could be adopted.
Commander WILLIAMSMay I take it from that that the right hon. Gentleman is not in favour of an insurance policy for gear?