§ Mr. TOBINasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the Lancashire and Western Sea Fisheries Joint Committee applied to the Treasury in July, 1910, for a grant in aid of their scientific and development work in the sea fisheries under the terms of the Development Act of 1909; whether such application was referred by the Treasury to the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries and, if so, on what date; whether the Board has sent in to the Development Commissioners any and what claim for a grant in aid of the scientific and development work of the joint committee and, if so, on what date; and, if not, whether he will state why this has not been done, and when it is expected that the Board will be able to state definitely whether any grant in aid of the scientific and development work of the joint committee will be made or not?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The original application of the Committee was referred to the Board by the Treasury on the 13th July, 1910, and an amended application was received by the Board on the 26th November, 1910. On the 10th June last the Board submitted to the Treasury a general scheme for the development and improvement of the English fisheries by means of grants from the Development Fund. The scheme contemplated an annual expenditure of £15,600 for research and experiments, out of which sum it was proposed to make a grant to the Lancashire and Western Committee, in aid of the work referred to in their application. I am still in communi-1542W cation with the Commissioners with regard to the scheme, but I recognise the urgency of the matter, and I have reason to believe that it will be possible to make some arrangement very shortly which will enable me to assist the Committee to continue the work upon which they are engaged.