§ 78. Mr. HOPKINasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware of the shortage of cockles in the beds at Ferryside, Carmarthenshire; if he is aware of the distress caused to the inhabitants of Llansaint by this shortage; and if he is now able to say what steps he proposes to take to prevent the spoliation of the cockle beds by people from outside the Ferryside area?
§ Mr. PALINGMy right hon. Friend understands that owing to a shortage of cockles in neighbouring districts outside the Ferry Side area, cockle gatherers from those districts visit Ferry Side and gather cockles there. He was not aware that there was a shortage of cockles at Ferry Side, the supplies from which have not shown any marked change during the past 10 years. He understands that fears have been expressed that the beds at Ferry Side may be depleted owing to an increase in the number of cockle gatherers, but there is no power to prevent the gathering of cockles from public beds, such as these are, by persons from other districts.