§ 16. Mr. Emrys Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the complaint made to him by the secretaries of the Clyde Fisheries Association concerning the recent rise in the price of sisal from 75s. 3d. to a new peak price of 292s. per cwt., and of the difficulties this has caused to fishermen and to the herring industry.
§ Mr. T. FraserPrices of ropes are kept under review by the Central Price Regulation Committee but the Government have no control over the price of raw sisal. Special arrangements have been made for the release of 4,000 tons of manila for the fishing industry. Manila ropes should be available to fisherman in July at prices below the current price for similar sisal ropes, and as they have an appreciably longer life the effective cost to the fishermen should be substantially reduced. I am writing to the association more fully in this sense, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my letter.
§ Mr. J. J. RobertsonCan the Minister not take steps to see that adequate manila rope is allocated to the Scottish inshore fishing fleet?
§ Mr. FraserI will note the representation.
§ Lady TweedsmuirCan the Minister say what the price of the manila rope will be?
§ Mr. FraserI could not, offhand.
§ Mr. Henderson StewartSince the amount of manila rope to be made available will be rather small, is it not time, in view of the fact that sisal rope has increased in price five times in the last few years, to consider a subsidy for this essential part of the fishing industry?
§ Mr. FraserWe note again this appeal for a subsidy from the other side of the House.
§ Squadron Leader KinghornWill the Minister see that the English fishing fleet gets a fair share of manila rope?
§ Mr. SpeakerScotland is certainly getting a fair share of Question Time today.