§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that steam trawlers are being laid up at Hull, and other fishing ports, because it does not pay to send these ships to sea since the recent increases in the price of their bunker coal; and whether he is examining the situation with a view to finding a remedy?
§ Sir R. HORNEA certain number of steam trawlers have recently been laid up; not, however, so far as I am aware, as a result of the recent increase of 4s. 2d. a ton in the price of bunker coal. This increase was due to the necessity of putting the price of coal on an economic basis, and while it affects the fishing industry in common with all other industries, the extra expense in the case of a trawler does not amount to more than some 25s. a working day. The price of bunker coal is only one of many factors which have brought about the present position in the fishing industry.