§ 22. Mr. Woodburnasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the final results of the herring season for the Scottish fishing industry; and to what extent he has had reports of distress.
§ Mr. J. StuartFrom 1st April to 3rd December landings of herring at Scottish ports totalled 535,728 crans to a value of £1,618,830, a fall of 1 per cent. in both weight and value compared with last year. In addition, Scottish boats fishing at East 1829 Anglia landed 61,753 crans to a value of £274,388, a reduction of about 57 per cent. by weight and 40 per cent. by value compared with last year. The East Anglian season has been a grave disappointment, but I have received no specific reports of distress.
§ Mr. Emrys HughesHas the Minister not heard that Clyde fishermen are in great distress as a result of the failure of the herring fishery and the withdrawal of the white fish subsidy? Will he agree to receive a deputation from those fishermen so that they can put their case?
§ Mr. StuartI must point out to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) that the Question refers to the herring fishing and not to white fish which we debated at some length yesterday, but I agree, of course, that this has been a disastrous fishing year.