§ 4. Sir C. Osborneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that, owing to the heavy landings of fish, especially at Grimsby, from Faroese and German vessels in particular, the distant water earnings during March fell more than £600,000 compared with a year ago; and, in view of the fact that a modern trawler costs up to £300,000, and £450 a day to keep at sea, what new steps he proposes to take to give British fishermen reasonable security in their own market.
§ Mr. SoamesI am aware that the value of British landings in March, 1962, was considerably lower than in March, 1961. In this, heavier landings by our own as well as by foreign vessels played a part. The industry is well accustomed to considerable variations in landings and prices have in fact risen again to high levels in April. I see no need for any special action.
§ 13. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the quantity of wet fish landed in Great Britain during the spring of 1962 and for the spring of each of the last five years; and, in view of the downwards trend, what steps he is taking, in the interests of the fishing industry and of the consumers of fish, to reverse this trend.
§ Mr. SoamesThe figures are given below. As for the second part of the36W Question, the Sea Fish Industry Bill now before Parliament embodies the Government's policy for the fishing industry.
QUANTITY OF WET FISH LANDED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY BRITISH AND FOREIGN FISHING VESSELS, SHOWN SEPARATELY, DURING THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF 1962 AND FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF THE LAST FIVE YEARS British Landings Foreign Landings Total Wet Fish Landings Cwts. Cwts. Cwts. 1962 3,279,594 564,461 3,844,055 1961 3,400,117 376,207 3,776,324 1960 3,549,663 444,276 3,993,939 1959 3,832,496 266,371 4,098,867 1958 3,780,491 307,884 4,088,375 1957 3,712,397 359,642 4,072,039