§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, if he will make a statement on the experimental work at Torry Research Station, Aberdeen, carried out in, and since, 1956 in relation to the various designs of fish freezers for use in fishing trawlers, and indicate his present plans for encouraging the further use of the results of these experiments for commercial purposes; and how he proposes that the expense involved shall be met.
§ Mr. H. NichollsIn 1956 full-scale commercial experiments on the distant water trawler "Northern Wave" proved the technical feasibility of freezing the 83W first part of the catch and the suitability of the vertical plate freezer specially designed by Torry Research Station. They also afforded considerable information on costs. Subsequent work has improved the freezer and led to the design of a part-freezing trawler, of essentially the same size and cost as a modern diesel-electric trawler, while able to provide more fish of higher average quality, and possibly more cheaply. The staff of the Station are advising interested owners and manufacturers on design and layout.
The White Fish Authority has indicated that, subject to certain conditions, it would be prepared to consider defraying the cost of the freezing equipment and cold storage on a part-freezing trawler built for commercial operations and give the owner of the vessel the option to buy these items after an agreed trial period, or have them removed at the Authority's expense.