HL Deb 23 July 1964 vol 260 cc811-2

3.27 p.m.

THE MINISTER OF STATE, SCOTTISH OFFICE (LORD CRAIGTON)

My Lords, I beg to move that the Herring Subsidy (United Kingdom) Scheme, 1964, be approved. In the Herring industry, proceeds over the year as a whole have not changed much from the previous year; so the grants and subsidies which your Lordships approved about this time last year remain unchanged this year. The 1964 Scheme differs materially therefore from the 1963 Scheme only in two minor respects. First, for the convenience of those who operate under both the Herring Subsidy and the White Fish Subsidy Schemes the opportunity has been taken to make drafting changes to bring the wording of these two Schemes, where appropriate, into line; and secondly, fourteen small ports at which small quantities of herring were sometimes landed have, for the convenience of fishermen, been added to the schedule of ports at which herring landings can qualify for subsidy. I beg to move.

Moved, That the Herring Subsidy (United Kingdom) Scheme, 1964, be approved.—(Lord Craigton.)

LORD WISE

My Lords, there is only one question that I wish to raise on this particular Order. In the Order which we have passed in regard to white fish, the day of sale of the white fish can be reckoned as the day on which payment is made. But in the Herring Industry Scheme no such privilege has been allowed to the fishermen who catch herrings. Can the Minister explain why that should be so?

LORD CRAIGTON

Yes, my Lords. The white fish fishermen normally fish during the daytime, and therefore the white fish fishermen who catch fish for six days can qualify for six days' subsidy. But herrings are caught in the night, and therefore herring fishermen fishing for five nights also qualify for six days' subsidy.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, may I ask the Minister a question with regard to the general position of the trade? What proportion of it now is export trade? I can remember being engaged constantly upon this nearly forty years ago, and the noble Lord, Lord Boothby, had a great deal to do with it then. What about the export trade to Russia, for example? How is that side of the herring business going?

LORD CRAIGTON

My Lords, from 1960 to 1963 exports as a whole have fallen slightly, from £2 million-odd in 1960 to £1,800,000 in 1963. For Russia there has been a big drop, from £117,000 to £50,000. But in other areas the exports have gone up quite considerably—for instance, to the European Economic Community from £366,000 to £469,000. So the picture is varying throughout the various markets; but on the whole, it shows a slight decline over the year.

EARL ALEXANDER OF HILLSBOROUGH

My Lords, has that been affected at all by the fact that certain countries which are engaged in the herring fishing industry are giving wider protection to their own herring fishing, and perhaps intruding a great deal more on ours?

LORD CRAIGTON

My Lords, that must be one of the factors. But I think there are a great many factors involved in the various markets concerned.

On Question, Motion agreed to.