§ 39. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to make a further statement on the number of applications for grants which have been received and acceded to or refused under the two schemes, made by his Department last July, under the enabling powers in the White Fish and Herring Industries Act, 1953, especially the 19 applications to the White Fish Authority and the six applications to the Herring Board which were under consideration on 2nd February last and, of applications refused, the reacon in each case why each was refused.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. James Stuart)As the reply involves a table of figures, I shall, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. HughesDoes the Secretary of State realise that the purpose of the Act mentioned in the Question was to help the fishing industry and not to frustrate it? As the present administration of the Act is not at all satisfactory to the fishing industry, will the right hon. Gentleman alter it?
§ Mr. StuartI agree that the Act is intended to help the industry, and a large percentage of applications has been approved. Under the White Fish Scheme, out of 84 applications 51 have been approved and 19 are under consideration, and the Herring Industry Board has had 60 applications, 45 of which have been approved and six of which are under consideration.
§ Following is the reply:
| DISPOSAL OF APPLICATIONS FROM SCOTTISH FISHERMEN TO THE WHITE FISH AUTHORITY AND HERRING INDUSTRY BOARD FOR GRANTS FOR NEW BOATS AND NEW ENGINES AS AT 1ST MAY, 1954. | ||
| … | White Fish Authority | Herring Industry Board |
| Applications (i.e. number of new boats and new engines) | 84 | 60 |
| Approved | 51 | 45 |
| Under consideration. | 19 | 6 |
| Withdrawn | 6 | 2 |
| Refused | 8 | 7 |
| DISPOSAL OF THE APPLICATIONS UNDER CONSIDERATION ON 2ND FEBRUARY, 1954 (INCLUDED IN THE ABOVE TABLE). | ||
| … | White Fish Authority | Herring Industry Board |
| Total | 19 | 6 |
| Approved | 13 | 4 |
| Still under consideration | 2 | 1 |
| Withdrawn | 1 | — |
| Refused | 3 | 1 |
§ I am informed that of the 15 applications refused 14 were refused because the applicants were unable to fulfil the requirements of paragraph 5 of the statutory schemes and one was refused under paragraph 9.