Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture whether, in view of the importance of the crab and lobster fisheries to the inshore fishermen, he will authorise a meeting of the Crab and Lobster Inter-Departmental Committee at an early date and instruct the committee to report 2569W as soon as may be practicable as to what steps can be taken to improve these fisheries?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonI am in consultation on this matter with the Association of Sea Fisheries Committees of England and Wales. As soon as I am in possession of their views, I will give further consideration to my hon. Friend's suggestion.
Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is in a position to give the total value of imported canned crabs and canned lobsters into Great Britain during 1936; and the total value of crabs and lobsters caught and landed by British fishermen, including both Scotland and England and Wales, during the same period?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe approximate values of canned crabs and lobsters imported into the United Kingdom in 1936 were £689,000 and £254,000 respectively. These are provisional figures. The total values at the ports of the crabs and lobsters caught and landed by fishermen in Great Britain during the same year were £71,000 and £112,000 respectively.
Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is now in a position to give the approximate date when the new Fisheries Bill will be introduced into the House; and, in particular, whether he can give an assurance that the Bill will be introduced during the present Session of Parliament?
§ Mr. W. S. MorrisonThe proposed legislation dealing with the fishing industry is in course of preparation and every effort is being made to complete this task as expeditiously as possible. While I am unable to give an appropriate date for the introduction of the Bill I have every hope that it will be introduced during the present session.