§ Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether the Ministry of Agriculture or any other Department contributed out of public funds towards the formation expenses of the Minesweepers' Co-operative Trawling Society by printing and circulating prospectuses to prospective shareholders; were the prospectuses and forms of application for membership printed by His Majesty's printers; if not, by whom; what Department will defray the printing expenses; and whether these sums are to be a subsidy from public funds to the society in question?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI have been asked to reply to this question. The Treasury approved of an advance from public funds for certain expenditure for the formation of the Minesweepers' Co-operative Trawling Society, and stipulated that the printing should be done by the Stationery Office, on the understanding that these expenses will be recovered from the Trawling Society. No subsidy has been granted from public funds to the society.
§ Captain BOWYERasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture whether his Department in August, 1920, circulated an abridged prospectus of the Minesweepers' Co-operative Society to private persons; how many circulars were thus issued; what was the cost of printing the prospectus and what was the cost to the public; will this cost be recovered from the society, and how; and by whose orders were the circulars sent out?
1390W
§ Sir J. CRAIGI have been asked to reply to this question. The prospectus of the Minesweepers' Co-operative Trawling Society was issued by the society through the Stationery Office, whose services were utilised in the manner explained in reply to the previous question on this subject, No. 9. A certain number of copies were supplied to the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for distribution through local officers to fisher-men who inquired about the scheme. The cost of printing will be recovered from the society. All further particulars in regard to this prospectus should be obtained from the secretary of the society at its registered offices, 110, Leman Street, E.1.
§ Mr. GRITTENasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture (1) how much money has been guaranteed or subscribed to the Minesweepers' Cooperative Trawling Society by the Wholesale Co-operative Society or any other society; how much has been subscribed by ex-Service men; will the scheme now be able to go forward in its entirety;
(2) whether a clause was put in the prospectus of the Minesweepers' Cooperative Trawling Society that anyone who might ultimately enter: the fishing industry might take up shares in the society; whether a pamphlet was circulated at Milford Haven offering shares to any trade unionist; whether the society was formed in order to help ex-service men who were engaged in minesweeping during the War; and, if so, why it is that the society has opened its membership to all and sundry?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe Admiralty has been asked to reply to these questions. It has been ascertained from the Minesweepers' Society that the Co-operative Wholesale Society has neither quaranteed nor subscribed any money for shares in the Minesweepers' Society. The society is at present engaged in enrolling members and is going forward with the scheme in its entirety. Application for information as to the affairs of the society should be addressed to the society's secretary at the registered offices, 110, Leman Street, E.1. The society has supplied the following information:—The society is being formed in the interests of ex-service fishermen who were engaged in minesweeping. It has been found necessary in framing the rules to provide that all persons employed 1391W in the society's work shall be eligible for membership. This would include shore hands and others. It is also necessary under the Act of Parliament under which the society is registered that the rules should provide means for the continuity of the society being maintained by enrolment of future members.
§ Mr. GRITTENasked the Palliarmentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether any Admiralty clerk or other person in the service or employment of the Admiralty recently visited Milford Haven and spent some time in the town canvassing for shares in the Minesweepers' Co-operative Trawling Society; by whom were the expenses of this visit paid; and whether it is the practice of the Admiralty to employ Civil servants in missions of this nature?
§ Sir J. CRAIGAdmiralty representatives recently visited Milford Haven to explain the formation of the Minesweepers' Trawling Society, in accordance with the scheme approved by the Government and announced by the Parliamentary Secretary of the Admiralty in the House of Commons on 27th October, 1919. The work of enrolling members in the society was not done by Admiralty representatives, but by the local agent of the society appointed for the purpose. It is the intention of the Admiralty to carry out the declared policy of the Government in assisting in the formation of this Trawling Society, in order to reinstate ex-service fishermen with a stake in their own industry. As regards expenses incurred in the promotion of the society, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of the 20th inst. to a similar question put by the Member for Buckingham.