§ 38. Mr. Garro Jonesasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in some fishing ports dissatisfaction with the method of inspecting settling accounts has not been removed by steps hitherto taken under the Sea Fish Industry Act; what steps have been taken to implement the specific assurances given by Ministers during the passage of that Act, that the staff of superintendents and staff to strengthen supervision would be increased; and, if not, when these assurances will be acted upon?
§ Mr. StanleyNo, Sir. I have received no complaints, and special reports called for from the Board of Trade superintendents at the end of March last indicated that the arrangements as to settling accounts under the Sea Fish Industry Act were working well. The staff at Grimsby was increased; and the question of staff at other important fishing ports is under review.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 12 months have now passed since the assurance was given that the staff would be increased, and can he say how much longer that question will be under review before the staff is increased?
§ Mr. StanleyI do not think any assurance was given that the staff would be increased, if no necessity for it was shown.
§ Mr. Garro JonesWould the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to look at the report of the discussion on the Bill, and then he will find that the necessity for an increase was then admitted and has not since been acted upon?
§ Mr. StanleyI can only say that I have had no complaints, and therefore, prima facie it would appear that the existing arrangements are working well.