§ Sir D. Thomsonasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to a statement in the Scottish Fishery Board Report for 1938 that the number of fishermen employed fell from 19,364 in 1937 to 17,915 in 1938, being now little over half the number employed in 1913; and whether he is satisfied that, in the event of emergency, there now exist sufficient numbers to meet all naval requirements and also sufficient to man the fishing fleets and the merchant service?
§ Mr. ShakespeareMy attention has been drawn to the reduction referred to by my hon. Friend. I am satisfied that in an emergency naval requirements can be met without jeopardising the manning of the Mercantile Marine and the fishing fleet.