§ 23. Mr. T. RAMSAYasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Government have any policy to assist by way of grants or loans those fishermen of the Outer Hebrides who served in the Navy and as mine-sweepers during the great War, and returned home to find that their boats in the interval had either been lost or rendered useless?
§ Sir G. COLLINSIt would not be possible at this date to formulate a scheme such as my hon. Friend suggests; but I may remind him that since the War various schemes of assistance to Scottish ex-service fishermen have been in operation, in which the fishermen of 1664 the Outer Hebrides participated. My hon. Friend is perhaps not aware that out of 1,400 grants made to fishermen shortly after the War under the civil liabilities scheme, no fewer than 500 related to the Outer Hebrides.
§ Mr. RAMSAYDoes the right hon. Gentleman not refer to naval gratuities to which the men were entitled by reason of service like all other naval men, and the housing schemes for fishermen in certain areas, rather than to the sacrifices which the men had actually made in the loss of their boats?
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe information supplied to me is that these sums are chargeable by way of loan or advance to fishermen who have lost their boats and who have done service to the nation during the Great War.