§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will catalogue the exports over last year, with particular reference to the period between November and the end of January 1964, in relation to which the Herring Industry Board assisted the fishermen.
§ Mr. NobleThe Herring Industry Board is regularly engaged in dealing with export problems, including the negotiation of quotas for the importation of British herring into foreign countries, bringing together potential buyers and sellers, making special arrangements by contract prices and providing facilities, for example, for the freezing of herring by export merchants. These activities are reflected in the Board's Annual Reports. The Board have negotiated arrangements between catchers and exporters in regard to exports since the end of November of frozen, marinated, and klondyked herring. It is not, however, possible to specify the extent to which particular sales abroad—which totalled 365,326 cwts. in 1963—may be attributable to the part played by the Board.
§ Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost to the Government if the catching of herring for conversion to fish meal and oil over the next two months were subsidised.
§ Mr. NobleI assume the hon. Member wishes to know the additional cost to the Government if the present subsidy of 25s. per cran were paid on all herring sold for conversion to fish meal and oil over the next two months instead of only on the quantity so sold up to a limit of 20 per cent. of the total landings. No change is proposed in the present arrangements and no estimate of such additional cost has accordingly been made.