§ 38. Mr. DUNCAN MILLARasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can state the amounts of the £50,000 loan fund which has now been allocated to fishermen who lost their nets during the gale on armistice day; and whether, after all the applications for loans to meet the losses then sustained have been dealt with, he will be prepared to apply any balance of the fund remaining towards meeting losses sustained on other occasions?
Mr. W. ADAMSONApplications have been definitely approved to the amount of £868. As the hon. and learned Member is aware, applications may be 2713 received up to the end of this month, and 365 applications have been received up to date. The loans fund is not available for any purpose other than that for which it was sanctioned by Parliament.
§ Mr. MILLARWill the right hon. Gentleman not consider making any balance available for other losses, seeing that that amount at any rate ought to be expended among the fishermen?
Mr. ADAMSONBefore such cases could be dealt with, as I have already pointed out, the sanction of Parliament would be required.
§ Mr. BOOTHBYIn the event of there being a surplus, to what purpose does the right hon. Gentleman propose to apply it?
§ 39. Mr. MILLARasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been directed to the proposal of the Convention of Royal Burghs that a loan fund of £500,000 should be provided by the Government for the purpose of assisting Scottish fishermen to replace their worn-out gear and boats; and whether he is prepared to consider this proposal and to provide a replacement fund for such purposes?
Mr. ADAMSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I would refer the hon. and learned Member to my replies to questions on this subject on the 18th February. I understand that the matter will be considered by the Economic Advisory Council's Committee on the Fishing Industry who propose to take evidence on the subject.