HC Deb 05 April 1951 vol 486 cc440-1
Mr. T. Williams

I beg to move, in page 3, line 22, after "agents," to insert: in any locality in which the Authority think it necessary so as to secure proper provision for the needs of the fishing industry. It might be for the convenience of the House if we could discuss at the same time the next Amendment, in page 3, line 35.

Here again, thanks to the discussion which we had in Committee on the question of the Authority becoming salesmen or undertaking processing, we have put forward these Amendments. The right hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Law) put down two Amendments. On one the Government won because the Chairman voted in, our favour, and on the other we had a minority of one. We promised then that if the right kind of words could be provided we would give effect to the real desire of the right hon. Member for Haltemprice, and that is what we are now doing.

If one couples the words of the Amendment which I have moved with those of the Bill, one sees that the Authority cannot become salesmen except in any locality in which the Authority think it necessary, so as to secure proper provision for the needs of the industry. The same remark applies to the second Amendment, with regard to processing. I said in Committee that the processing equipment may exist but may not be in use or might not be used economically. Either situation could be detrimental to the fishermen. That is what we are trying to avoid. I hope that the Amendments will satisfy the hon. Baronet that we have fulfilled faithfully the promise that we made in Committee.

6.30 p.m.

Sir T. Dugdale

I do not suppose that my hon. Friends can be as enthusiastic about these Amendments as they were about the others. I understand that what happened in Committee on this point had an effect on the Government. By and large, we accept the way the Government have tried to meet the point we made during the Committee stage, and for that reason we gratefully accept these Amendments.

Amendment agreed to.

Further Amendment made: In page 3, line 35, leave out from second "in," to end of line 36, and insert: any locality in which the Authority think it necessary so as to secure proper provision for the needs of the fishing industry."—[Mr. T. Williams.]