§ 2.35 p.m.
§ Order of the Day for the House to be put into Committee read.
§ Moved, That the House do now resolve itself into Committee.—(Lord Carrington.)
§ On Question, Motion agreed to.
§ House in Committee accordingly:
§ [The EARL OF DROGHEDA in the Chair]
§ Clauses 1 to 4 agreed to.
§ Clause 5 [White fish subsidy]:
§
THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES (LORD CARRINGTON) had given notice of two Amendments to subsection (2), the first being to omit "either." The noble Lord said: These two Amendments come together; they are really clarifying Amendments. Clause 5 (2) of the Bill enables a scheme of white fish subsidy to provide:
either in respect of white fish landed in the United Kingdom from the vessel during a period prescribed by the scheme or in respect of voyages made…
The intention is to enable subsidy to be assessed on the white fish landed, or on the voyage, or on a combination of the two. At present, inshore fishermen are paid entirely on the white fish landed a subsidy of tenpence a stone, while owners of near and middle water vessels receive payments in two parts—fourpence a stone for white fish landed and a further payment on a sliding scale based on the financial results of each voyage. There is some doubt whether Clause 5 (2) as it stands permits a combination of the two methods of assessment. I think it could be argued that it permits only either one or the other but not both together. The object of the two Amendments is to make clear that a combination of these two methods is in order. I beg to move.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 4, line 40, leave out ("either").—(Lord Carrington.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ LORD CARRINGTONI beg to move the next Amendment.
§
Amendment moved—
Page 5, line 2, after ("Kingdom") insert ("or in respect of white fish so landed and of voyages so made".—(Lord Carrington.)
§ On Question, Amendment agreed to.
§ On Question, Whether Clause 5, as amended, shall stand part of the Bill?
LORD SALTOUNI should like to take this opportunity of thanking the noble Lord for the care which he has taken over this particular clause.
§ Clause 5, as amended, agreed to.
§ Remaining clauses and Schedule agreed to.
§ House resumed.
§ Then Standing Order No. XXXIX having been suspended (pursuant to the Resolution of yesterday), the Amendments reported: Bill read 3a with the Amendments, and passed; and returned to the Commons.