§ Mr. MILDMAYasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether the applications of the Sea Fisheries Committees of Devon and of Cornwall for a Grant from the Development Commission to facilitate the provision of auxiliary motor power in fishing boats have yet been transmitted to the Development Commissioners?
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture what progress has been made with regard to the scheme for assisting the co-operative movement among inshore fishermen by supplying them with loans for installing motor power?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANA special inquiry has been conducted in Devon and Cornwall by an officer of the Board, and in the light of the information collected by him the Board propose to arrange for further inquiries on other parts of the coast, with a view to obtain material for a policy generally applicable to the inshore fisheries. I must add, however, that in my speech in this House on 26th June last I explained that the policy of the Board would be not to make loans direct to fishermen, but to encourage and aid the formation of cooperative credit societies through which fishermen would be able to obtain loans at easy rates.
§ Mr. NOEL BUXTONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture at what date he expects to complete the re-organisation of the Fisheries Department so as to carry out his proposals in regard to inshore fisheries?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI have already set on foot inquiries directed chiefly to discover the best means by which the Inshore2282W Fishermen may obtain credit for the provision of boats, gear, and motive power. Further inquiries on a comprehensive scale dealing with various aspects of the problem will be undertaken at an early date. Some time must elapse before I am in a position to frame a definite scheme, but no avoidable delay will be incurred.