Orders of the Day — WHITE FISH AND HERRING INDUSTRIES (No. 2) BILL

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 March 1957.

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Photo of Lord John Hope Lord John Hope , Edinburgh Pentlands 12:00, 12 March 1957

I certainly take note of my hon. Friend's suggestion.

On the question of the general presentation of its case by the Board, my hon. Friend asked that it should be less rigid and more encouraging. In that connection, he particularly appealed for energetic action to help the canner. I am certain that his observations and other remarks concerning the Board itself will be noted by the Board. I want to be careful not to try to interfere in the Board's own business of running its day to day operation in the way that it thinks best.

My hon. Friend raised the knotty problem of herrings in connection with the Free Trade Area. I cannot, of course, pronounce upon that, but it is relevant to remind my hon. Friend that the value of herring exported to the E.P.U. area is only a small proportion of the total exports. It is not as though there would be anything like a disaster if herring were excluded from the Free Trade Area arrangements. Beyond that I would rather not go.