§ 86. Mr. Beechmanasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that mittens and other woollen goods now stored at the Seamen's Institute at Newlyn for distribution to fishermen can-not be so distributed owing to the fact that the fishermen are not entitled to 1110 Mercantile Marine coupons; and whether he will have this matter put right as a matter of urgency.
§ Mr. BelcherNo, Sir. I understand that the goods to which the hon. Member refers were originally supplied by the headquarters of the mission to deep sea fishermen for distribution to crews of minesweepers. The Secretary of the local institute appears, therefore, to be following the wishes of the donors of the articles in declining to release them except against the surrender of Merchant Navy coupons or the "free comforts coupons" which deep sea, but not inshore, fishermen receive.
§ Mr. BeechmanCan the Minister arrange for inshore fishermen, who take out small boats many miles to sea in all sorts of weather, to receive these endowments as well as other fishermen?
§ Mr. BelcherInshore fishermen, in addition to the ordinary civilian ration, receive the industrial "ten" and they have special facilities for acquiring coupons for protective clothing.