§ 35. Mrs. Mannasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that the trawlermen propose to cut 562 their Suez Emergency Surcharge by 2s. only from the surcharge of 6s. per 10 stone which they imposed; and if he will introduce such a measure of price control as will enable him to prescribe that the surcharge should now be removed entirely.
Mr. AmoryThe British Trawlers' Federation abolished the Suez Emergency Surcharge as from 29th April, while increasing from that date their minimum price for cod by 3s. per kit. I do not consider that price control is necessary on this account.
§ Mrs. MannWould not the right hon. Gentleman recommend that we should go back to the pre-Suez charge?
Mr. AmoryThe industry has to bear in mind the whole question of its costs and the spread of costs over the whole industry. Considering the hazards of the industry and the higher costs to which it has been subjected over recent years, I am bound to say that I think its record is very good in maintaining relatively stable fish prices.