§ 35. Mr. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the failure of the Herring Industry Board to achieve any adequate expansion of foreign markets for herring, His Majesty's 1961 Government will enter into direct negotiations with the Governments of Germany, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, Poland, and the Baltic States for the sale of this season's cure?
§ Mr. ElliotI am informed that practically all the herring cured this season have already been sold, and that the curers are satisfied that they can find markets for their further production. Direct negotiation by the Government for sales appears to be undesirable.
§ Sir Edmund FindlayCan the right hon. Gentleman say at what price this arrangement has been made?
§ Mr. ElliotPerhaps the hon. Gentleman would put that question down.
§ Mr. KirkwoodDoes the Minister's reply mean that we are not to have a recurrence of the state of affairs in which fishermen brought in herring and had to empty them back into the sea because there was no market?
§ 36. Mr. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the failure of the Herring Fishery Board to effect any substantial improvements in the conduct of the industry, he will consider calling for the resignation of the present members and introducing emergency legislation to set up a new board with adequate powers?
§ Mr. ElliotThe board's performance of their very difficult duties does not, in my opinion, warrant the suggestion made in the question. The question of extension of the board's existing powers is at present receiving consideration.
§ Mr. BoothbyIs my right hon. Friend not aware that the present board has lost the confidence of the herring industry; and in view of the desperate plight of the industry does he not think drastic steps should be taken?
§ Mr. ElliotI do not think that is by any means a universal opinion.
§ 37. Mr. Boothbyasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the report of the Herring Fishery Board; and, if so, what steps he proposes to take with regard to it?
§ Mr. ElliotI have received and am considering the report referred to. As regards the second part of the question, I 1962 think the matter would be more suitable for discussion in Thursday's Debate on the estimates for the Herring Industry Board.
§ 39. Mr. T. Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the report of the Herring Industry Board that there is scope for increased consumption of herring in the home market, what steps, if any, are being taken to ensure that the needy populations in the distressed areas will be specially considered?
§ Mr. ElliotAs the recent report of the Herring Industry Board shows, efforts are being made to increase the consumption of herring in the home market, and it is hoped that utimately there will be an increased sale of this cheap and palatable food in all sections of the community, including the distressed areas.
§ Mr. JohnstonWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question? What steps, if any, apart from hope, are being taken to ensure that the needy population get these herring?
§ Mr. ElliotI think it would be undesirable to go into this matter at Question Time, when there will be a full Debate on Thursday.
§ Mr. JohnstonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the largest trading organisation in Scotland, the Scottish Wholesale Co-operative Society, is willing to place its great organisation at his disposal if he will wake up in this matter?
Viscountess AstorIs it not a sad fact that even people in distressed areas will not eat food if they do not like it?
§ 40. Mr. Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the report of the Herring Industry Board for the period March, 1936, to March, 1937, with the disclosure that the average gross earnings of Scots herring boats are £1,495 per annum, while English boats earn £2,487; whether the Herring Industry Board can suggest any feasible explanation of this wide disparity beyond the greater poverty of the Scots fishermen whereby they are less able to provide repairs and maintenance for their vessels; and what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. ElliotThe report of the Herring Industry Board, to which the right hon. Gentleman refers, suggests several reasons for the difference between the earnings of the Scottish and English boats. As I have already indicated in reply to the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby), the discussion of matters arising out of the report can, I think, more suitably be undertaken in Thursday's Debate than in the course of question and answer.
§ Mr. JohnstonDo we understand that the Secretary of State will be prepared to answer specifically the last part of the question on Thursday, namely, what steps, if any, he proposes to take in the matter?
§ Mr. ElliotThe specific answer to the question what steps, if any, I propose to take includes the answer that there might be no steps. I prefer not to add to what I have said.
§ 41. Mr. Johnstonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that during the year 1935 Russia purchased 105,500 barrels of herring from this country, and that this purchase dropped to 20,000 barrels in 1936; what results have accrued from the contact established by the Herring Board with the representative of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for the coming season; and whether he will take urgent steps to aid the Herring Board's efforts to extend their Russian market?
§ Mr. ElliotThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, I am informed that the Herring Industry Board have been unable to come to terms for the sale of this season's catch to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for reasons of price. With regard to the last part, I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to the answer which I have to-day given on a similar point to the hon. Member for East Aberdeen (Mr. Boothby).
§ Mr. JohnstonIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that up till noon to-day neither he nor his Office had taken any steps to induce the Russian buying organisation to participate in a larger proportion of the herring catch?
§ Mr. ElliotI pointed out in answer to the previous question that surely it is desirable that the Herring Board should 1964 take such steps, having been set up by the House for that purpose.
§ Mr. JohnstonWhen the Herring Board has failed, why cannot the right hon. Gentleman do anything?
§ Mr. ElliotI do not want to be responsible for accepting the price of 10s. a cran.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartIf it is a fact that the contract with Russia has broken down, how can it be that the curers are satisfied, as the right hon. Gentleman said, that there will be a full sale of the catch to Germany?
§ Mr. ElliotBecause they are selling so many in Germany.
§ Mr. BoothbyDoes my right hon. Friend really mean to say that he is satisfied, and that the curers are satisfied, that they can dispose of the whole of the Scottish cure this year, to Germany alone?
§ Mr. ElliotNo, I did not say that.