§ SIR SAVILE CROSSLEY (Suffolk, Lowestoft)asked the First Lord of the Admiralty, Whether he is aware that damage to the amount of £800 has been inflicted on the Lowestoft fleet of drift fishing boats by Belgian trawlers during the last week; and, whether he will order a cruiser to be sent without delay to protect that fleet against further damage?
§ THE FIRST LORD (Lord GEORGE HAMILTON) (Middlesex, Ealing)No information of the character which the hon. Baronet refers to has been received by the Admiralty; but in past years there have been complaints that British fishermen have been subject to molestation from foreign fishermen; and, with the view of giving more effective protection to the fishermen on the East Coast, a cruiser has been set apart to take on board fishermen pilots. I will, however, direct inquiries to be made.