§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the recent imposition of 2d. a gallon on ships' bunker fuel and lubricating oils is reducing the potentialities of the British trawling industry, if he will take steps to remove it as soon as possible and meanwhile provide additional aid to the industry from the Supplementary Fund.
§ Mr. HoyI have been asked to reply.
No. This is a temporary surcharge imposed by the oil industry which the Government have accepted as reasonable. Cost changes are taken into account at periodic reviews of the industry's costs and earnings when their full effect is known.