§ 17. Major Sir ARCHIBALD SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now in a position to state the terms, including the rate of interest, upon which credits will be offered to Scottish fishermen for the replacement of their nets lost off the East Anglian coast on the 11th November; and in what manner it is intended that the voluntary fund should be utilised for the assistance of these fishermen?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Mr. William Adamson)The rate of interest to be charged will be 3 per cent. The other terms upon which loans will be granted are under consideration. The relief funds raised by the Lord Provosts will be pooled to form a national fund and distributed by the central committee with the assistance of local committees among the Scottish fishermen referred to for the purpose of assisting them to replace their nets.
Major WOODAre we to understand that the loans are to be confined only to those who lost their nets on 11th November, or to all fishermen?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI have another question on that point.
Major WOODWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether there are going to be separate applications, or, as before, he is going to ask the two classes of fishermen to fill up the same form?
§ 18. Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the needs of share fishermen, other than those who suffered in the East Anglian disaster, for credits to replace lost and worn-out boats and gear, will be provided for in the Government's credit scheme for the Scottish fishing industry?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI regret that it is not practicable to utilise the Loans Fund except for the purpose stated in my reply to the hon. Baronet's question on the 23rd of December.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that for some time there has been a strong demand from the fishing industry for these credits, a demand which he himself supported in the last Parliament; and is he not also aware that a great many men in much poorer circumstances than some of those who lost their nets in the East Anglian disaster urgently require assistance, which some of us would give them?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI am quite as well aware of the difficulties of the subject as my hon. and gallant Friend, but, when an appeal was made for the fund, its purpose was stated to be to replace the nets which had been lost in the gale off the East Anglian coast on 11th November.
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRMy question referred, not to the voluntary fund, but, as the right hon. Gentleman will see, if he is good enough to refer to the question, to the Government's credit scheme. It is that credit scheme which I wish to see extended to those who were not concerned in the East Anglian disaster.
§ Mr. ADAMSONI think my hon. and gallant Friend forgets that all the appeals that were made for help, and for the help that the Government might give, were based on the loss that had been sustained by the fishermen on the 11th November.
§ Sir WILLIAM MITCHELL- THOMSONIs there a credit scheme and the voluntary fund, or is there only one scheme?
§ Mr. ADAMSONI think I have already explained that the voluntary fund will be distributed by the committee that has been set up, and that there will be a loan of £50,000 to the fishermen at the 12 rate of 3 per cent., the conditions of which are now being considered by the Fishery Board.
Major WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the credits mentioned in this question were promised by the right hon. Gentleman and his friends in their election campaign and that they are a part of their election programme? When is the right hon. Gentleman going to carry out this definite pledge?
§ Mr. ADAMSONWhatever may have been in the election programme, I want my hon. and gallant Friend to realise that since this Government came into office some seven months ago, or thereabouts, a considerable amount of relief has been granted to the fishermen on whose behalf he is appealing and that other forms of assistance are now under consideration by the Government.