HC Deb 02 August 1951 vol 491 cc252-3W
Captain Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade why sisal rope is being rationed to fishermen; and whether this is with his authority.

Sir H. Shawcross

So far as I am aware, there is no restriction on the use of sisal rope by fishermen. If the hon. and gallant Member will send me particulars of any case he has in mind I will look into it.

Captain Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much manila rope has now been distributed to inshore fishermen; and how much more will be available in the near future.

Sir H. Shawcross

Details of the quantities of manila rope sold to any individual category of fishermen are not available. As regards future supplies, as the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. D. Marshall) was informed on 12th April, 4,000 tons of manila hemp has been allocated for the manufacture of fishing gear in the year which commenced on 1st July, and the proportion of this which will go to inshore fishermen depends on the certification of need in each case by the local fishery officer.

Captain Duncan

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that sisal rope as used by fishermen has now gone up to over£308 per ton; and what steps he proposes to take to reduce it.

Sir H. Shawcross

The price of£308 15s. 0d. per ton, which is a maximum price, is made up of a basic price of£279 10s. for ordinary sisal rope, plus the "extra" of£29 5s. which is allowed for sisal seine net rope because its manufacturing costs—both in production time and raw material usage—are higher than those of ordinary rope. The "extra" was increased, with the approval of the Central Price Regulation Committee from£12 10s. to£29 5s. on 3rd July last as a result of the big rise (from£112 to£245 per ton) in the price of raw sisal since November, 1949. The Committee were satisfied, after a careful review, that this increase in the "extra" was no more than was necessary to cover the rise in production costs.

With regard to the second part of the Question, a general cost investigation is at present in progress, but no appreciable reduction in rope and twine prices is likely until the prices of the raw materials fall. For the first time for many years, however, manila seine net rope is available to fishermen. As it both costs less and lasts longer, it is much cheaper in use than the corresponding sisal rope.