§ Mr. R. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in what countries the Government are making efforts to open up markets for our herring exports, with special reference to the Clyde fishing industry; and whether he has any statement to make regarding progress made?
§ Mr. ColvilleSo far as trade agreements concluded by His Majesty's Government are concerned, I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the reply given by my right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, on 6th July, 1937, to a question asked by the hon. Member for the Western Isles (Mr. Malcolm Macmillan), of which I am sending him a copy. Exact figures are not yet available, but these trade agreements continued to cover last year nearly 90 per cent, of the total United Kingdom exports of herring to all foreign countries. A further concession has been secured for the herring industry in the recent trade agreement with the United States, under which the United States import duty on cured herring packed in barrels has been reduced. The measures taken or contemplated refer to the produce of the herring fishery generally and not specially to that of the Firth of Clyde.