HC Deb 02 May 1887 vol 314 cc555-6
MR. ANDERSON (Elgin and Nairn)

asked the First Lord of the Treasury, Whether the Scotch Fishery Board have recommended that trawling be prohibited in the Moray Firth; and, when a bye- law will be made carrying out such recommendation? The hon. Member also asked, Whether the First Lord of the Treasury can state why it is that an Order published on the 18th April was not known to the Scottish Office at the end of last week?

THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. J. H. A. MACDONALD) (Edinburgh and St. Andrew's Universities)

(who replied) said: With regard to the subsequent Question of the hon. Member, I have to say that if this Question had been put to someone connected with the Scotch Department on the previous occasion when it appeared on the Paper, it would possibly have been answered on the day on which it had been asked. The Scotch Fishery Board have made a bye-law prohibiting trawling in the Moray Firth within certain specified limits. This bye-law has been duly advertised, and will, on the expiry of the statutory period, be transmitted to the Secretary for Scotland of confirmation.

MR. ANDERSON

I should like to ask the First Lord of the Treasury, whether the Government will appoint someone who will really represent the Scotch Department in the House?

THE FIRST LORD (Mr. W. H. SMITH) (Strand, Westminster)

The hon. Gentleman has not been long in this House; but he is probably aware that the Lord Advocate does represent the Scotch Department in the House.