§ 77. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the Isle of Man was excluded from the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries Order providing a herring fishing subsidy last year.
§ Mr. GodberSection 3 of the White Fish and Herring Industries Act, 1957, under which the Herring Subsidy Schemes, 1957, were made authorises the payment of subsidy only in respect of vessels registered in the United Kingdom landing herring in the United Kingdom. The Scheme cannot therefore be extended 45W to include the Isle of Man. Arrangements were however made to enable the Herring Industry Board to pay 5s. a cran over the economic price for herring landed in the island by United Kingdom vessels for processing at the Board's factory at Peel.
§ 78. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations were made by the Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man nearly twelve months ago to have the Isle of Man ports included in the Herring Fishing Subsidy Order; and why the Order has not been amended.
§ Mr. GodberWhen the Herring Subsidy (United Kingdom) Scheme, 1957, was introduced the Isle of Man Government arranged to pay a similar subsidy to Isle of Man vessels landing herrings in the Isle of Man but represented that it should be reimbursed on the same basis as the Herring Industry Board for payments to Isle of Man vessels landing herring for processing at the Board's factory at Peel. The United Kingdom Government considered that the payment of any subsidy to Isle of Man vessels was a matter for the Isle of Man Government but offered to reconsider the matter should the Isle of Man scheme not be re-introduced in 1958. The arrangements for the 1958 season are now being considered.
§ 79. Mrs. Braddockasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, unless the herring subsidy is extended to the ports of the Isle of Man, the Scottish and Irish boats which in past years have been fishing herring in Manx waters will go to other ports where the subsidy is paid; and if he will take action in this matter.
§ Mr. GodberMy right hon. Friend understands that the Isle of Man Government are concerned that United Kingdom vessels landing herring in the Isle of Man are not eligible for subsidy apart from the special arrangements made for herring landed for processing at the Herring Industry Board's factory at Peel. The Isle of Man Government have recently represented to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that landings of herring in the Island may therefore be adversely affected and these representations are now being considered.