§ Sir F. FLANNERYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller the number of steam trawlers now lying at Brightlingsea, and how long they have been lying there: whether these trawlers are large powerful vessels requisitioned during the War from the chief Scottish and North-east Coast fishing ports, and now lying moored two or three abreast blocking up the fairway and generally deteriorating; whether he is aware that Brightlingsea is not a suitable port to refit numerous steam trawlers of large size and that no serious work is being done upon these ships; and whether his Department will arrange for the vessels to be properly taken in hand and restored forthwith to their original service in the interests of the national supply of food?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI have been asked to reply to this question. Forty Admiralty-owned steam trawlers awaiting disposal are now laid up at Brightlingsea. The vessels were laid up at various dates since the Armistice on completion of their naval duties; they are under the charge of the Senior Naval Officer at Brightlingsea and care and maintenance parties are provided to look after the vessels and to prevent deterioration. The majority of the vessels are awaiting transfer to the Trawling Society for ex-Service fishermen which is in course of formation and which was referred to by the late Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, in his reply to the hon. Member for Banff on the 27th October last. Fourteen of the trawlers are being satisfactorily reconditioned as fishing vessels by local firms to the requirements of Lloyd's Survey; the remainder allocated to the Society will be taken in hand as circumstances require. Negotiations are proceeding for the sale of the remaining vessels, namely those not required for the Society. There are now no hired trawlers at Brightlingsea.