§ Mr. MACQUISTEN(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will direct the local authorities of Campbeltown and Tarbert to give immediate relief to destitute fishermen who have been reduced to want by the failure of the herring shoals for a considerable period; and whether he will forthwith take steps to indemnify the said authorities in respect of such expenditure, as was done in Scotland at the time of the coal stoppage in 1926.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. W. Adamson)The granting of relief to able-bodied persons is a matter within the discretion of the parish councils concerned. From a special report which I have received, I understand that steps have already been taken by the parish council to deal with cases of destitute fishermen in Campbeltown and inquiries are at present in progress in connection with the situation in Tarbert.
§ Mr. JAMES BROWNWill the right hon. Gentleman say what has been done or is going to be done on the opposite coast? There are fishermen in Ayrshire who are just in the same position as in Campbeltown and Tarbert? Is any relief to be offered to these men and their families in the very near future, because many of them are now destitute and can get nothing? He must be aware that these men, being share fishermen, participate in no fund of any description whatever.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that Campbeltown has been particularly hard stricken with unemployment for many years, and that there is no alternative occupation there?
§ Mr. ADAMSONIn reply to the two hon. Members who have been putting questions, I may say that I have been giving special attention to the fishing population and their difficulties, and I am aware that on the opposite side of the Firth there are difficulties just as there are in Campbeltown and Tarbert. We have reports to the effect that in at least one of the places which the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. J. Brown) mentioned arrangements have already been made by the parish council for helping the destitute fishermen, and the other places are having our special attention.
Mr. MACLEANIn view of what is happening in the places mentioned by the two hon. Members who have put questions, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is the intention of the Scottish Office to have any inquiry into the methods of fishing in Scotland to see whether some better methods cannot be devised so as to bring the fishing business into a paying position?
§ Mr. ADAMSONThat is one of the aspects of the fishing industry which is under special consideration.
§ Mr. MACQUISTENWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of my question? Will he reimburse these parish councils for their expenditure?