§ MR. CROMBIE (Kincardineshire)I beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland what is the amount of the surplus collected from the herring brand fees still at the disposal of the Government; whether the greater part of this sum has been drawn from the Fisheries on the East Coast of Scotland; and whether a corresponding portion will be spent on the improvement of harbours on this coast?
§ SIR G. TREVELYANAfter taking into account the liabilities undertaken by the Board in respect of harbours, there is no surplus left available at present from the herring brand fees. Practically the whole of these fees are derived from the East Coast, the West Coast having in the year 1891 contributed only £30, out of £4,272. Since 1887, £18,000 has been spent on harbours on the East Coast, and £9,000 on the West Coast. As the Western Highlands get a special grant for harbours under an Act, the whole of this money referred to in the question ought to be spent on the East Coast.