§ 46. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Prime Minister, in view of the difficulties confronting the fishing industry, if he 846 will appoint a special Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture to deal specifically with this subject.
§ The Prime MinisterNo, Sir.
§ Mr. MarshallIs the Prime Minister aware that, owing to the fact that there is no regulating of the dumping of foreign imports, there are over 150 ships lying idle at present, and over 1,500 men unemployed in the fishing industry? Will he say what he proposes to do about it?
§ The Prime MinisterThat does not seem to arise from this Question.
§ Mr. BoothbyIs the Prime Minister aware that every side of the fishing industry is simply being left to collapse, and apparently no Department is taking the faintest interest whatever?
§ The Prime MinisterThe hon. Member is quite wrong.
§ Miss Irene WardDoes the right hon. Gentleman realise that those who are interested in fishing think that there is too much interest in agriculture and too little in fishing in the present Department presided over by the Minister of Agriculture?
Air-Commodore HarveyWill the Prime Minister tell the House what action the various Departments are taking with regard to what he says is being done?
§ The Prime MinisterCertainly, if the hon. Member will put down a Question.
§ At end of Questions—
§ Mr. D. MarshallOwing to the unsatisfactory reply I received from the Prime Minister, may I seek your permission, Mr. Speaker, to move the Adjournment of the House on a matter of urgent public importance, namely,
That owing to the dumping of foreign imports the whole of the fishing industry is faced with ruin, that already large unemployment has occurred, a large number of fishing vessels are tied up and that Government action is urgently required to prevent complete chaos in the industry.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member asked my permission that he may move the Adjournment under Rule 8 of Standing Orders on a matter of urgent public importance. Of course, it should be a definite matter of urgent public importance. As a matter of fact, the 847 Motion he has read out is not one which comes under Rule 8. It does not really qualify as a definite matter of urgent public importance, and therefore I cannot accept the Motion.