§ 43. Mr. Doddsasked the Minister of Agriculture what action he proposes to take in respect of the scheme prepared by distant water trawler owners to restrict landings of white fish by the vessels of British owners who subscribe to the scheme, in view of that part of the first report of the White Fish Authority which stated that it was undesirable that the decision as to whether British catches should be restricted or not should rest with a small group of trawler owners whose interests might not always be identical with those of consumers generally.
§ Sir T. DugdaleI presume that the hon. Member has in mind the distant water owners' development scheme which was introduced in 1950 to avert the danger of a market collapse for distant water fish such as occurred in that year. The White Fish Authority are discussing with the trawler-owners a proposal to replace these arrangements by a statutory scheme under the provisions of the Sea Fish Industry Act, 1951.
Any such scheme would have to be submitted to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Food, and myself, and would also require approval by Parliament.
§ Mr. DoddsIs the Minister aware that the new scheme, provided it is put into operation quickly enough, will be welcome? Will he also bear in mind that Hull-Grimsby trawler owners, who have made big profits, get together for the purpose of securing bigger profits and less fish for the public?