HC Deb 04 November 1954 vol 532 cc596-7
46. Mr. Edward Evans

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of his action in causing the Ministry of Food to be absorbed into the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, with a consequent dilution of the responsibility of the Minister, in respect of fisheries, he will now appoint an additional Parliamentary Secretary to be administratively responsible only for fishing.

The Prime Minister

It is not considered that fishery interests will in any way suffer by the amalgamation of the Ministry of Food with the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. The two Departments now have a Minister and three Parliamentary Secretaries. That is quite enough.

Mr. Evans

Is not the Prime Minister aware that this functional trichotomy—if I might use the expression—is bound to denigrate the fishing industry? There is a great deal of feeling on this matter up and down the country, and facing the Minister of Fisheries there are such very grave matters as the Icelandic problem and the overfishing question. Is he not further aware that his former allies, the British Housewives' League, are now in league against him and are demanding that the fishing industry be referred to the Monopolies Commission?

The Prime Minister

I shall meditate upon those remarks when I have the opportunity to study them in HANSARD.