§ 9. Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he can make a statement as to the result of his meeting with the deputation representing the herring fishing industry?
§ Mr. SKELTONMy right hon. Friend received on Thursday last a representative deputation from the herring industry who proposed that the Government should give a subsidy of 10s. per cran on all fresh herring caught by drift net and landed in Scotland from 5th June to 8th September this year. My right hon. Friend informed the deputation that he was unable to accept a proposal of this nature. The representatives of the industry subsequently put forward certain alternative proposals, namely, that the Government should make loans for nets and should undertake to bear any loss incurred within a limit of £100 per boat in respect of certain items of the season's expenditure. These were considered at further meetings on Friday.
My right hon. Friend indicated that he could only consider the proposal if it 1597 were based on the principle of limiting the fleet to the proportion which could profitably be employed this summer for securing the catch estimated by the deputation to be saleable. The representatives of the industry intimated that they were unable to accept the principle of such a limitation for this summer. As a result the Secretary of State intimated that while he had the fullest sympathy with the industry and had given prolonged and anxious thought to the various suggestions made it did not appear to him to be possible to proceed further with the consideration of these alternative proposals in the absence of agreement on this question of principle.
§ Sir M. WOODAre we to understand that the negotiations are now at an end and that the Government are not considering this matter further?
§ Mr. SKELTONSo far as these proposals are concerned, they would undoubtedly be the subject of further consideration if an agreement were reached regarding the principle to which I have referred.
§ Sir M. WOODDoes not the hon. Member realise the impossibility of the industry standing off a percentage of the men without some guarantee that the men who are deprived of their work are to have some assistance?
§ Mr. SKELTONI have nothing further to add on the subject of the negotiations beyond what I have said in my answer and my supplementary answer, but I see the point put by the hon. Member.
§ Sir M. WOODIf the Government put forward a proposal of this kind, must it not have some views as to the feasibility of its proposal, and does it not realise that it is quite impossible for the industry to stand off a percentage of the men and leave them standing?
§ Mr. SKELTONThe hon. Member will appreciate, on the other hand, that it would be most improper for the Government to assist in sending to sea a larger number of boats than could make a profit, sending a larger number of boats only to make a loss.