§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the resolution, of which a copy has been sent to him, passed at a meeting of East of Scotland fishermen, held on 31st October, in which protests were made against the lowering of the control price of round fish and the recent order increasing the size of round and fiat fish which may be landed for sale; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
Mr. JohnstonYes, Sir. I have been in communication with my Noble Friend the Minister of Food, by whom the two Orders referred to were made. The first Order was designed to reduce the price of certain kinds of white fish to the consumer. With this object the maximum price to the producer was reduced by 3d. a stone for many species of such fish, and a considerably larger reduction was made in the margins allowed to distributors, with the result that the maximum price to the consumer was reduced by 1d. per lb. for whole fish and 2d. per lb. for fillet. The second Order, which increased from seven to nine inches the minimum size of fish which may be sold for human consumption, was made because, in the view of my Noble Friend, the food value of fish under nine inches was inconsiderable and their marketing 531W involved a disproportionate expenditure of time, labour and materials. I shall be glad to receive full particulars of any cases in which the earnings of fishermen are unduly affected and to consider them in consultation with the Minister of Food.