Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 8th May, 1953
Singapore Fishing Industry (Assistance)
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if his attention has been drawn to the 1951 Report of the Director of Fisheries at Singapore, where a decrease in the number of Malay fishermen and an increase in the number of Chinese are recorded; what steps are being taken by the Government to assist the Malay fishermen; what loans have been made for modern equipment; and what steps have been taken to assist Malay fishermen in the formation of marketing co-operatives.
pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 25th February, 1953, Vol. 511, c. 2091], supplied the following information:
Assistance given to the Fishing Industry of Singapore
Government assistance is not restricted to any specific race but is freely available to all fishermen. The rising demand for fresh fish has called for the provision of special facilities for those fishermen who wish to extend their operations from the fully exploited inshore fishing grounds into the untapped fisheries in the adjacent seas; nevertheless, the peculiar position of the conservative Chinese and Malay fishermen is recognised and they are being helped to adapt themselves to changing conditions.
The following are among the measures at present in operation.
1. Fisheries Loans Board
A fund of $400,000 (about £47,000) has been established by the Government of Singapore to provide loans to established fishermen wishing to extend operations into the offshore fisheries. Sixteen loans totalling approximately £31,500 have been sanctioned to date. (It is regretted that, in general, the Malay fishermen have not taken advantage of this facility and only three of the loans, amounting to about £300, relate to Malay operatives.)
2. Fishing Materials Supply Service
A fishing materials purchase account established in 1951 enables the Fisheries Division to introduce improved equipment and to maintain stocks of scarce materials for resale to the fishermen. In addition to the improved types of lines, nets and net preservatives, etc., 40 outboard engines were supplied to inshore fishermen during the early stages of the mechanisation of the near-water drift-net fleet when such engines were in short supply.
3. Government Fishing Unit
This Government-operated unit was established in 1952 to carry out experimental and exploratory fishing with the object of demonstrating the advantages of modern equipment and the commercial possibilities offered by the use of fishing methods at present unknown in the Colony. It is intended to utilise this unit for instructional purposes in due course.
4. Technical Advisory Services
These are provided by the Fisheries Division and in particular attention has been paid to the mechanisation of vessels, the utilisation of power and the use of improved gear preservatives, etc.
Apart from the above-mentioned assistance, approval has been given for the establishment of a mobile training unit which will provide demonstrational instruction in the operation, maintenance and repair of engines employed in fishing boats.
At present there are no fish marketing co-operatives in Singapore but the Government of Singapore is considering the establishment of a wholesale fish marketing scheme for the Colony. This will include specific arrangements for the small fishermen and has been designed to retain the direct producer-retailer outlets which have developed in a number of places within the island. Seven co-operative thrift societies are active in the fishing villages of the Colony of Singapore.
There are no Chinese members in these societies and fishermen of this race have shown no interest in this form of activity. The following table illustrates the position on 31st December, 1952:
| Number of Societies | Membership | Net Savings | ||
| Fishermen | Others | Total | ||
| 7 | 635* | 337* | 972 | $35,788 |
* Estimated. | ||||
These societies are organised and supervised by the Department of the Co-operative Development.
Following a visit by the Adviser on Cooperative Affairs to the Secretary of State for the Colonies in February, 1953, the question of the establishment of fishing co-operatives with a wider scope of activities and membership is being considered.
During 1952 there has been an increase in the number of fishermen engaged in the
| — | Chinese | Malay | Indians | Others | Total | ||||||
| 1951 | 1952 | 1951 | 1952 | 1951 | 1952 | 1951 | 1952 | 1951 | 1952 | ||
| 1. Fishermen employing non-powered vessels | … | 1,577 | 1,738 | 1,228 | 1,045 | 7 | 4 | — | — | 2,812 | 2,787 |
| 2. Crew and fishermen on powered vessels: | |||||||||||
(a) Inboard | … | 1,414 | 857 | 84 | 68 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1,500 | 927 |
(b) Outboard | … | 105 | 474 | 73 | 295 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 180 | 769 |
| 3. Prawn pond fishermen | … | 141 | 169 | — | 3 | — | — | — | — | 141 | 172 |
| Total | … | 3,237 | 3,238 | 1,385 | 1,411 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 4,633 | 4,655 |
| The increase from 4,633 to 4,655 does not, however, reflect the true position. It will be seen that, according to the statistics, the number of Chinese and Malay fishermen employed on powered vessels fell from 1,414 to 857 and 84 to 68 respectively. This decrease is apparent only, not real, and results from an improvement in the system of maintaining records relating to powered boats. The increase in both Chinese and Malay fishermen is significant and reflects a movement of manpower into the industry as a result of the better returns obtained during the year. | |||||||||||
Coal Industry (Ministerial Control)
asked the Prime Minister if the Government will consider taking steps to appoint a supreme minister for coal, responsible both to the House of Commons and for the supreme administration of the National Coal Board and of the coal industry, in order to give the national coal production drive first priority both in the House of Commons and in the country.
I do not consider that such action, involving fundamental and hazardous changes in the existing statutory basis of the nationalised coal industry would be wise.
Post-War Credits
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the country of repaying post-war credits at the age of 57.
Post-war credits are at present being repaid at a rate of just over £16 million per annum. If the age for repayment were reduced to 57 (with a corresponding reduction to 52 for women) the total repayment in the year in which the change was made would be about £153 million, and the annual repayment thereafter would be £18 million.
industry. The following table illustrates the position:
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the cost to the country of repaying post-war credits to all cases of proven hardship.
As the answer to this Question would depend both on what my hon. Friend means by hardship, and on the personal circumstances of individuals. I am afraid it is impossible for me to supply him with any figure which has any pretensions to accuracy.
Law Society, Scotland (Memorandum)
asked the Minister of Transport if he has now considered the statements contained in the memorandum submitted to him by the Law Society of Scotland; and what reply he has sent.
Yes. The memorandum deals with a matter in which I have no power to intervene, and I have accordingly done no more than acknowledge the receipt of the memorandum and noted its contents.
Home-Produced Eggs
asked the Minister of Food what amount was paid for the 81 million home-produced eggs purchased by his Department since eggs were decontrolled; how many of these eggs have been sold; how much was received for them; and what was the profit or loss to his Department.
pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 27th April, Vol. 514, c. 1760], supplied the following information:
It has not yet been possible to make final payment for some of these eggs bought in Northern Ireland but the total amount is expected to be approximately £1,325,000. None have been sold but my Department has arranged for some to be broken out and made into frozen egg for sale later to the baking and manufacturing trades. Of the balance held in cold store, a proportion will be broken out and frozen but the majority will be sold later in the year as "chilled eggs." It will be some months before my Department's profit or loss on these transactions can be ascertained.