HERRING FISHING INDUSTRY. (Hansard, 26 November 1934)

§ Mr. BOOTHBY
I want to raise with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, the question of the herring fishing industry. It will be within the recollection of the House that the Sea Fish Commission was appointed by 638 the Government a little time ago, and it was requested by my right hon. Friend to consider the condition of the herring fishing industry and to make recommendations in regard to it, as a matter of urgency. The report was issued recently, and I think hon. Members on all sides of the House will admit that it is a masterly economic document of the highest importance. Following the publication of the report, which was read with great interest by hon. Members and those engaged in the trade, the Secretary of State met leaders of the industry and, as a result of their consultations, they came to an agreement on all the salient features of the report, and it was generally agreed among those engaged in the industry that the recommendations in that report should be given effect to by the Government as soon as possible. Nobody suggests, least of all I, that one can 639 translate the report completely into legislation. Technical difficulties are bound to come up when discussing the questions raised in such a report with those actually engaged in the industry, but I think I can say that there is a general consensus of opinion in the industry, and among all those who take an interest in it, that on the main lines the report is right, and that unless legislation along the lines of the report is passed in the fairly near future there can be no hope for the herring fishing industry.
I wish to ask my right hon. Friend three categorical questions, and I hope that when he replies he will not say that he is aware that this is a matter of great urgency, because we are all aware of that. It is vital that something should be done before the next fishing season begins. My questions are these: First, is the right hon. Gentleman preparing a Bill on the lines of the Sea Fish Commission's report? To anybody who has read that report it is obvious that legislation is necessary if its recommendations are to be carried out. Financial provision will have to be made as well as legislative. Secondly, is he consulting the leaders of the industry in the preparation of such legislation Thirdly, will he give an undertaking that legislation will be passed this Session, and not only this Session but before the opening of the fishing season next summer? We are entitled to an answer, because the Government directed the Sea Fish Commission to consider the case of the herring fishing industry as a matter of real urgency, and I do not think that industry could continue for more than another year at the outside along the old lines.
My right hon. Friend knows, and the Prime Minister knows, that these men are not only magnificent men in themselves but are really an integral part of the scheme of national defence for this country. It is no exaggeration to say that the very existence of our Fleet in the War depended upon the drifter fleet. Tribute has been paid to them by Lord Jellicoe and Lord Beatty, and I do not think that is disputed, but one cannot continue indefinitely saying what magnificent men these are and how the position of the industry is a matter of the gravest urgency unless something is done. 640 That has been said many times in the last seven or eight years and very little has been done. Good intentions are excellent in themselves, but there comes a moment when they must be put into effect, and I say to my right hon. Friend, with all sincerity, that if the Government refuse to act upon this report a wave of dismay and indignation will sweep the coasts of Scotland from one end to the other, and it will be almost impossible for any of us who support the Government in this House to present ourselves to our constituents at another election. I am not over-estimating the case when I say that the fishing industry as a whole in Scotland looks to the Government to implement the report of its own commission, a report which it asked for as a matter of urgency, and I beg the right hon. Gentleman to give some assurance to the industry that the Government mean business at last and will pass legislation before it is too late.

§ Sir MURDOCH McKENZIE WOOD
Perhaps I may be allowed, before the right hon. Gentleman replies, to emphasise what has been said. There are several Members whose duty it has been in the last year or two to voice the misfortunes of this industry. Now that is quite unnecessary, because the report to which reference has been made has proved our case. We, therefore, do not need tonight to discuss either the cause or the cure of the evils; we want a statement from the right hon. Gentleman. I am sure the right hon. Gentleman will understand that it is not hon. Members whom we desire he should reassure. We are in a better position than the ordinary members of the fishing industry to understand the reasons for the delay in making an announcement. We understand that the Government must consider these things very carefully, but the industry is dismayed by the delay in making some sort of announcement.
It is three months now since the report was published, and it is a month since the right hon. Gentleman met the representatives of the industry. In the opinion of the industry he has all the material upon which to make a decision. It will take six months to prepare for the next fishing. Immediately they go home from Yarmouth or Lowestoft, the Scottish fishermen wish to start. Boats require to be surveyed, some to be con- 641 demned and others to be re-conditioned. It will take six months or so to replenish gear. I hope that the right hon. Gentleman will understand that fishermen and others in the industry expect an announcement to be made now that the Government mean to do something at an early date.

§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)
The hon. Member for Banff (Sir M. Wood) spoke of the dismay in the minds of the fishermen. There may be dismay in the minds of the fishermen, but it is through the hon. Member trying to throw doubts upon the honesty of the Government.

§ Sir M. WOOD
Would the right hon. Gentleman point to one word that I have said which would in any way give anyone the idea that the Government are not going to act upon their report? I have never said one word of criticism of the Government since the report was out. I ask the right hon. Gentleman to substantiate his statement.

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I must leave it to hon. Members to judge whether the tenor and tone of the speech delivered by the hon. Member would not convey dismay to the minds of the fishermen of the country.

§ Sir M. WOOD
I am surprised at the right hon. Gentleman. It is most unfair.

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I now turn to the speech of the hon. Gentleman the Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby), who raised this question. I take no exception to anything that he said. He spoke of the state of the herring industry, and he put what seemed to have been a proper question in the early days of this Session, in asking, in as friendly a way and as clearly as possible, what the Government's intentions were in regard to the report of the Sea Fish Commission. Let me remind the House that the Government asked the Sea Fish Commission, as a matter of urgency, to direct their attention to the matter. That showed the intention in the minds of the Government to deal with it as an urgent matter. The report was published in the middle of August, and we thought that time should elapse so that this report could get into the hands of those around our coasts who were concerned, and be considered by 642 them for a couple of months. That was definitely chosen. On 25th October, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, we asked, through the Scottish Office, for a meeting with the industry. Is it not unreasonable to address these questions to the Government after the House has spent five days discussing the Gracious Speech from the Throne, and after the speech delivered in public by the Secretary for the Department of Overseas Trade, last week, in which he gave expression to the intention of the Government not to let this matter be pigeonholed?
It is quite unfair to suggest that there has been any delay whatever. Throughout this matter the Government have shown the very keenest desire to improve this industry, which we know touches a soft spot in the hearts of all Members and of the great public outside. The hon. Member who raised this subject referred to an agreement. The arrangement which was made on the 25th October was made public. It was a request from the industry that the Government should pass such a Measure as is outlined in the report of the Sea Fish Commission. There was no agreement, there was no undertaking, direct or indirect, that the Government were pledged to implement the report of the Sea Fish Commission. The hon. Member asked me whether we consulted the interests concerned and he asked for a definite pledge that legislation should be passed before the herring fishing industry starts next year. We are fully alive to the nature of the case. We are fully alive to the situation that these boats must go to sea next year by a particular time. It is impossible for me to give the very definite assurance that I am asked for. I can only reply that I can go no further than what I said last week in reply to a question, but that must not be taken as implying that there is any delay, any slackness or any complacency on the part of the Government.
I regret that the hon. Member for Banff should have used such a word as "dismay." I know that when those in the industry read that word their hearts may sink for fear that the Government may fail at this critical moment. That is not the outlook of His Majesty's Government on this matter. My hon. and gallant Friend, as I have said, gave that very definite assurance last week, and 643 if I am unable to extend it by the news which hon. Members would like me to convey, as to passing a Bill and all the rest of it, it is not from any lack of desire, but solely because the matter is one of far-reaching importance, one of the most far-reaching questions which this House will have to consider on such a Bill, if it is introduced. I cannot satisfy hon. Members, but I hope it will be agreed that that is not through any lack of courtesy to them or of sympathy with the industry, but solely because—

§ Mr. MAXTON
You do not know what you are going to do.

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I must ask hon. Members to have a little patience. The House has only met for six days—

§ Mr. MAXTON
This problem has been meeting you for 10 years.

§ Sir G. COLLINS
No Government during the last 10 years have shown a keener desire to face and solve the problem than the present Government—

§ Mr. MAXTON
But they have produced no practical results.

§ Mr. BOOTHBY
When does my right hon. Friend think he may be in a position to make a more definite statement? Before Christmas?

§ Sir G. COLLINS
I know that my hon. Friend is trying to lead me to say what he desires. I must fall back on my original statement, and I regret that I am unable to say anything further.