§ Question proposed, That the Clause stand part of the Bill.
§ Mr. WallThe Clause extends the scope of subsidies to products of white 794 fish and herring and to the transhipment of white fish and herring and their respective products. We welcome the Clause. I understand that it will assist important developments pioneered by the White Fish Authority in boxing at sea and the transference of fish at sea. It presumably covers the landing of fish products from possible future factory ships. Is it also intended to give assistance towards industrial fishing by British vessels?
The purpose of my intervention is to ask a question on the Explanatory Memorandum which states:
Although clause 2 gives rise to a potential increase in expenditure, no additional expenditure is likely to arise in practice, since it is not intended to make a subsidy scheme which would materially extend the class of fishing activities hitherto covered by such schemes.Can the Minister explain how the Clause will be applied if it is not to incur additional expenditure? It extends the scope of the Bill to products, and I would think that a certain amount of additional expenditure might be incurred.
§ Mr. HoyI am glad that the hon. Gentleman welcomes this change. It was made to meet certain needs within the industry and we have gone out of our way to make it possible. It is true that there is some difficulty about the definition of fish. That is being considered. We said that if the industry was to do this it ought not to be penalised.
§ Question put and agreed to.
§ Clause 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clause 3 ordered to stand part of the Bill.