§ Captain BOWYERasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware; that at many ports there is a grave shortage of men in the fishing industry; and if he will say how many ex-service fishermen are now unemployed?
§ Sir M. BARLOWI reget I am not in a position to furnish the exact information asked for by my hon. and gallant Friend. The only available statistics of unemployment among ex-service fishermen relate to the number in receipt of Out-of-Work Donation. The latest figure available is that for 1st October, at which date 222 ex-service fishermen were in receipt of Out-of-Work Donation. I am 1355W informed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries that, so far as they are aware, there are sufficient fishermen in England and Wales to man the existing fishing fleets. No doubt there are difficulties experienced at times in making up the crews of vessels. Owing to the reluctance of fishermen to transfer from one port to another, it frequently happens that there is a shortage at one port and a surplus at another.