§ 5.10 p.m.
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD CARRINGTON) rose to move, That the White Fish Industry (Grants for Fishing Vessels and Engines) Scheme, 1953, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Thursday last, be approved. The noble Lord said: My Lords, Sections 1 to 6 of the White Fish and Herring Industries Act, 1953, which recently became law, enabled the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board to make grants towards the cost of new fishing boats and engines by arrangements made in schemes requiring Parliamentary approval. The two schemes now before your Lordships—one in my name and the other in the name of the noble Earl, Lord Home—are so much alike that with your Lordships' permission I will deal with them together. They provide for two rates of grants, one applying to larger boats—that, is to say, usually the near and middle water trawlers—and the other to small boats owned by working fishermen. For the large vessels, the grant is at the rate of 25 per cent., subject to a limit of £12,000 for a herring boat and £25,000 for other classes of vessel. In the case of boats costing less than £20,000, working owners will receive the higher rate of 30 per cent. or £5,000, whichever is the less. The object of these loans is to restore the near, middle and inshore fleets, and I hope that your Lordships will give the schemes your approval. I beg to move.
§ Moved, That the White Fish Industry (Grants for Fishing Vessels and Engines) Scheme, 1953, reported from the Special Orders Committee on Thursday last, be approved.—(Lord Carrington.)
995§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I rise only to say that we on this side of the House have no objection to these Orders, and we give them our approval.
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.