HC Deb 06 April 1897 vol 48 cc602-3
MR. WEIR

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) whether, having regard to the fact that the Atlantic seaboard of the island of Lewis is not included in. the North Sea Convention, he will state whether it has been held desirable to consult the States signatories of that Convention before making a bye-law to render beam and other trawling illegal within 13 miles of the Atlantic seaboard of the island of Lewis; and (2), if it is not held desirable to consult the States signatories of the Convention, will he state what prevents the making of the proposed bye-law?

THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. G. CURZON,) Lancashire, Southport

The States signatories to the North Sea Fisheries Convention have not been consulted with reference to the making of a bye-law to render beam and other trawling illegal within 13 miles of the Atlantic seaboard of the island of Lewis. The second paragraph of the Question is, I think, rather a matter that concerns the Scottish Office.

MR. T. R. BUCHANAN () Aberdeenshire, E.

asked whether the signatories to the North Sea Convention had been consulted with regard to the 13 mile limit on the other coasts of Scotland?

MR. CURZON

That is a Question not connected with that which the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty has just put, and I shall be glad if the hon. Gentleman will give notice of it.