§ Mr. DUNCAN MILLAR(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now able to supply fuller particulars of the losses sustained by the Scottish fishing fleet at Yarmouth and other ports, through the disaster which occurred on Monday; and whether he hopes to be in a position to make an early statement as to the steps which will be taken to meet the urgent need of the fishermen who have suffered loss.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. William Adamson)The result of my further inquiries is, generally speaking, to confirm the information which I gave to the House yesterday, subject to the remark that the loss of nets will probably prove to be somewhat greater than the estimate which I have already made in this House.
A number of the drifters went to sea yesterday to search for the lost gear, any they were assisted by His Majesty's ship "Sutton," which has been engaged on fishery duties. In very few cases was the gear recovered, and as a rule the nets which have been found are torn and useless.
The names of the two vessels which were lost are the steam drifter "Love-dale," of Banff, and the motor drifter "Tweedside," of Buckie.
2226 In regard to the last part of the question, that is a matter which is engaging my attention.
§ Mr. ARTHUR MICHAEL SAMUELCan the right hon. Gentleman say why the commodore of this fleet was not equipped with wireless apparatus, so that he might know of the change in the weather at early notice?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI should like notice of that question.
§ Mr. MILLARWith a view to allaying the great anxiety which prevails among the fishermen, many of whom have been ruined by this disaster, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake that he will be in a position to deal with the question of relief early next week and to make a statement on Monday or Tuesday?
§ Mr. SAMUELWill the right hon. Gentleman take into consideration this proposal, that it should be made compulsory on one vessel in each of these fishing fleets to be equipped with wireless?
§ Mr. SPEAKERIt is rather early yet to go into that question.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the fishermen at the moment are in such dire straits that the bulk of the fleet cannot put to sea at all, and in view of the urgency and the real necessity of giving some assistance to these men towards repairing their vessels, will he give an undertaking to make a statement of the Government's policy on Tuesday next, if we put a question down for that day? That will give him some days to consider the matter.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONHas the right hon. Gentleman sent down any representative to consider the whole situation, and is he also taking into consideration, not only the gear, but the personal position of the fishermen who were damaged?
§ Major McKENZIE WOODHas the right hon. Gentleman had any communication from the Fish Trade Association at Yarmouth to-day and what action does he propose to take with regard to it? Further, if it is proposed, eventually, to take any steps to assist these men in the purchase of new gear, will adequate steps be taken to see that the gear manufacturers do not put up their prices?
§ Sir ROBERT HAMILTONWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to make as full a statement as possible on Tuesday with regard to his proposal, so that it may be debated on Wednesday?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am well aware of the things that have been mentioned in the considerable number of supplementary questions that have been put. As I have already stated to the hon. Member for East Fife (Mr. Millar),.these matters are all engaging my attention at the moment, and I do not think I can add anything further to what I have already said.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYCan the right hon. Gentleman not answer my question as to whether he can give a statement on Tuesday, as it is a question of immediate assistance? It is no good waiting any longer.
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am quite as well aware of the urgency of the case as is the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYI cannot do anything, but you can.
§ Mr. ADAMSON.I have already said that the matter is engaging my attention and will be dealt with at the earliest possible moment.
§ Mr. SKELTONMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if on the occasion at least he will stir himself out of the lethargy——[Interruption.]
§ Mr. BOOTHBYOwing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply of the right hon. Gentleman, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Motion for the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.
§ Major WOODOn a point of Order. We have had a very important question discussed, which is of the greatest importance to some of us here. Most of the men implicated in this disaster are constituents of mine. Like some others, I have not got an answer to my question, for a reason which is becoming very frequent in this House. Some other hon. Member gets up and asks a question before the previous one is answered, and the result is that the first question, which may be a very proper question, never gets an answer at all. I submit that this is getting very frequent in this 2228 House, and many Members who are trying to obey your ruling, Mr. Speaker, and conform to the rules of the House do not get an opportunity of putting their case. I protest against this, and I ask that we should get protection, particularly those of us who have to sit at this end of the House.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI can only recommend the hon. and gallant Member to appeal to his fellow Members on that subject.