§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to make a decision on the mackerel quotas for this season; if he will also investigate the allegations that mackerel which is fit for human consumption is being sold to the Eastern bloc factory ships for fish meal instead of being landed at Scottish ports for processing into canned foods at factories in East Aberdeenshire, and elsewhere in Scotland, which are at present having to receive temporary employment subsidies due to the shortage of supplies; and when he proposes to meet the Fish Processing Association and fishermen's associations to discuss the whole question of the industry's problems.
§ Mr. YoungerMy officials will shortly be meeting representatives of all sectors of the fishing industry to discuss the licensing arrangements for the West of Scotland mackerel fishery, which normally begins in mid-August.
During last year's fishery adequate supplies of mackerel were available to meet
1979–80 published estimate Apportionment of savings announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer NATIONL MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES £ £ British Museum … … … … 7,722,000 149,000 Science Museum … … … … 4,009,000 77,000 V & A Museum … … … … 6,539,000 124,000 Imperial War Museum … … … 2,531,000 49,000 National Gallery … … … … 4,401,000 82,000 National Maritime Museum … … 2,678,000 51,000 National Portrait Gallery … … … 1,180,000 22,000 Tate Gallery … … … … … 3,466,000 66,000 Wallace Collection … … … … 431,000 8,000 ARTS COUNCIL … … … … … 61,275,000 *1,114,000 BRITISH FILM INSTITUTE … … … … 4,676,000 86,000 BRITISH LIBRARY … … … … 29,651,000 599,000 OTHER BODIES … … … … … 5,378,000 163,000 133,937,000 2,590,000 * In addition to the reduction of £1,114,000 the sum of £425,000 has been withdrawn from this grant respect of a contingency no longer requied. Revised Estimates will be presented to the House to take account of these reductions. These revised Estimates may require further adjustment in the light of the Government's declared policy on Civil Service pay.
I am also concerned with expenditure by local authorities in England on libraries, museums and galleries towards which the rate support grant is payable.
352Wdemand by United Kingdom processors and my information is that almost all mackerel sold to Eastern bloc vessels was for human consumption purposes.
As I indicated to my hon. Friend on 11 June, my noble Friend the Minister of State and my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will met representatives of the Herring Buyers' Association on 26 June.