HC Deb 31 July 1939 vol 350 cc1946-8
72. Mr. Loftus

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether the Herring Industry Board consulted the Fisheries Department of the Ministry and the British herring industry generally, before fixing the periods during which licences to trawl for herring should be granted at various ports and the closing dates of such periods varying from 31st October to 4th December; and, further, why trawling for herring should be allowed to continue later in the year at Aberdeen than at any other port?

Sir W. Womersley

The Herring Industry Board consulted my right hon. Friend's Department on this matter but did not, I am informed, consult the industry. It has, for several years, been customary for herring trawling to continue later in the year at Aberdeen than at any other port, and I understand that the periods were fixed with the intention that the restrictions should fall equitably on all ports.

Mr. Loftus

Will my hon. Friend ask the Minister of Agriculture to represent to the board that the extensions given this year have inflicted a grave hardship on the drifters and that it is owing to that fact especially that Scottish fishing has been a failure; and further, will he point out to the Herring Industry Board that they were formed with the one object of helping the drifter fleets and that this action damages the drifter fleets?

Sir W. Womersley

I am well aware of the conditions obtaining in the herring industry at the moment, but I would remind my hon. Friend that Parliament did not give my right hon. and gallant Friend the Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries any power to intervene with the Herring Industry Board. What we can do is to send to the board a copy of the Official Report containing the hon. Member's supplementary question.

Mr. Loftus

Has not the Minister power to intervene when the Herring Industry Board break the law in failing to furnish a report and accounts by 30th June this year, as they are bound to do by Statute?

Sir W. Womersley

That is a different question.

Mr. Macquisten

Do not all the marketing boards continuously break the law?

73. Mr. Loftus

asked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the fact that kipperers at Lowestoft and Yarmouth will find the competition with kippers made from trawled-herring exceptionally severe, he will urge the Herring Industry Board to direct that trawling for herring at all British ports should cease on or before 14th October, by which date the usual autumn herring fishing in East Anglia will have commenced?

Sir W. Womersley

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any reason for believing that the competition of kippers made from trawled-herring is unfair, and the interests of fishings other than the East Anglian fishing are also deserving of consideration. My right hon. Friend has, in any case, no power to intervene in the way suggested by my hon. Friend.