§ 12. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what action he is taking to improve the efficiency of the fishing industry of the Seychelles Islands.
§ Mr. GreenwoodLow-interest loans to fishermen are provided to cover the cost of larger boats with engines and other equipment and 50 percent. grants to assist them to experiment with new techniques. I understand that loans totalling £2,000 using money given by the Freedom from Hunger Campaign have already been made, and that a further £3,000 from this source is likely to be lent during the next two or three months. Grants totalling £750 have also recently been made. These grants are supplied from Colonial Development and Welfare funds.
§ Mr. JohnsonI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply, but as he is himself visiting Mauritius in the coming weeks may I ask him to consider taking a northern detour to the Seychelles to see the condition of these fishermen, because they do need an enormous amount of capital?
§ Mr. GreenwoodMy hon. Friend would make an admirable siren, but I am afraid that, in view of the Parliamentary situation, I must resist his blandishments.
§ Mr. R. CarrAdverting to our repeated attempts to understand the division of responsibility between the right hon. Gentleman's Department and that of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development, can the right hon. Gentleman explain how he comes to be responsible for this matter rather than his right hon. Friend?
§ Mr. GreenwoodThis is money going to the Seychelles, not only from the Freedom from Hunger Campaign but under Colonial Development and Welfare funds, for which we have, of course, some continuing responsibility.
§ Mr. Hector HughesWhatever action my right hon. Friend may take with regard to the fishing in the Seychelles, will he make it clear that the fish caught in those waters cannot compare with the fish caught in the North Sea off north east Scotland—
§ Mr. SpeakerThe Minister may do it, but he cannot do it on this Question.