§ 18. Captain McEWENasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether any steps have yet been taken, in so far as the Scottish fishing industry is concerned, to give effect to the recommendations of the Economic Advisory Committee's Report?
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRThe Report of the Economic Advisory Council's Committee on the Fishing Industry is under consideration by the Ministers concerned, but I am not yet in a position to make any statement.
§ Captain McEWENIn view of the great interest with which the Report was awaited by Scottish fishermen in general, would it not be possible for the right hon. Gentleman to get some undertaking chat action can be expedited?
§ Sir A. SINCLAIRYes, that is my intention, I can assure the hon. and gallant Member.
69. Mr. LAWasked the Minister of Agriculture if he is aware that in April and May, 1932, out of 161 voyages of Iceland trawlers, sailing from Hull, 59 of 226 such voyages left their respective skippers and mates in debt, although the fish landed for those 59 voyages totalled 67,800 cwts.; that during the same period, out of 71 voyages of North Sea trawlers outward from Hull, 44 left the skippers and mates in debt, although the fish landed for those voyages totalled 9,160 cwts.; and whether he will consider the desirability of collecting further facts and figures of this nature for submission to the Tariff Advisory Committee with the object of increasing the existing tariff on foreign-caught fresh fish?
§ Captain Sir GEORGE BOWYER (Assistant Whip)I have been asked to reply. My right hon. Friend has been informed of the facts stated in the first part of the question. With regard to the last part, the Import Duties Advisory Committee have given public notice that they have before them an application by the British Trawlers' Federation for additional duties on foreign-caught fresh fish, and it is for the industry to furnish the Committee with any further information in support of the application.