§ Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOOD(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has received telegrams from Buckie Town Council and from a meeting representing public bodies in Lerwick impressing upon the Government the view of all sections of the herring industry that the complete collapse of the whole industry will take place immediately unless the industry is provided with the necessary credit to carry on, and particularly to enable it to implement its agreement to sell a specified quantity of herring to Russia; and whether he can give an immediate assurance that the industry can rely upon the Government to see that the necessary financial accommodation is made available.
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have received a telegram from the town council of Buckie to the effect stated by my hon. Friend, and a telegram from Lerwick which deals with a different matter. I am informed that the Co-operative Wholesale Society are considering to-day a request made by 1125 the British Herring Trade Association that the society should provide finance for the proposed contract for a sale o Russia. I cannot give any undertaking that the Government will provide finance for the purpose.
§ Sir M. WOODIs the Secretary of State aware that the delay in providing this credit is making the position of the industry worse than ever; and does he not consider that he has some responsibility in the matter, in view of the part that the Government took in negotiating the agreement?
§ Sir R. HAMILTONWhile I realise that the telegram from Lerwick referred to a somewhat different matter, is it not a fact that the matter referred to in that telegram makes it all the more necessary that immediate financial assistance should be given, so that this deal with Russia can be carried through, and that, unless it be given at once, there will be a complete collapse?
§ Mr. LOFTUSDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the whole fishing is stopped, and that herring are being dumped in the sea after they have been caught?
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSCan the right hon. Gentleman explain why the Scottish herring fishing industry depend entirely upon the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society to get rid of their herring?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am well aware of the urgency of the matter, but I thought, and still think, that the necessary finance should be provided by private enterprise, and I have so informed the parties concerned. Until a new situation has arisen, my answer must hold.
§ Mr. MAXTONDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that the industry has used every possible effort that it could to get private financial backing? Are we to understand that the right hon. Gentleman is telling the fishermen of the North-East of Scotland that there is no hope for them in private banking circles and no hope for them from the Government, and that their only hope is the co-operative movement?
§ Sir G. COLLINSNo. The situation is that to-day, I think at this particular hour, the British Herring Trade Association are in communication with the 1126 Co-operative Wholesale Society to secure a loan for the purpose in view, and until I hear the decision of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, I cannot give any undertaking.
§ Sir M. WOODIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that all that is required to finance this Russian deal is three months' credit, and does he not think that, if the industry has been going round the banks and the co-operative societies for a whole month, it may fairly be said to have exhausted the possibilities of private enterprise in the matter of credit?
§ Sir G. COLLINSUntil the decision of the Co-operative Wholesale Society is given, the possible resources of credit have not been exhausted.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIf the negotiations now going on with the Wholesale Co-operative Society fail, will the right hon. Gentleman at once step into the breach and see that the necessary guarantees are given?
§ Mr. HARBORDIs the right hon. Gentleman banging the door in the face of the strong protests of those who represent the fishermen? If so, his attitude is deplorable.
§ Sir G. COLLINSThe hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Sir R. Hamilton) has asked me a hypothetical question which I am not in a position to answer at the moment.
§ Mr. MAXTONYou answered it in the original answer.
§ Mr. MACLEANAre we to understand that in the matter of food for the nation nothing can be done by the Government, but that they can give a grant to assist gliders?
§ Sir G. COLLINSIn view of all the various supplementary questions, my original answer may not be fully in the mind of the House. I said that the Cooperative Wholesale Society are this afternoon considering a request from the British Herring Trade Association for a loan for the particular purpose.
§ Mr. MAXTONFinish your answer.
§ Sir G. COLLINSI have nothing to hide from the hon. Member. In view of that I then stated:
I cannot give any undertaking that the Government will provide finance for the purpose.
§ Mr. MAXTONI am profoundly dissatisfied with the right hon. Gentleman's answer, and I propose to raise the matter at the earliest opportunity on the Adjournment.