§ MR. J. G. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that fines for illegal trawling have, by the frequent repetition of offences by the same trawler, been shown to be ineffectual, he will consider the advisability of taking such steps as will admit of penalties being inflicted on the owner as well as on the master of vessels engaged in illegal trawling?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY,) ButeshireI am hardly prepared to accept the statement contained in the first portion of the hon. Member's question. As regards the second portion, it is not at present proposed to legislate for the purpose of altering the provisions of section 10 sub-section 6 of the Sea Fisheries Regulation (Scotland) Act of 1895, which give power in certain circumstances of recovering penalties from the master.
§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether the negotiations which have been in progress between the Scottish Office and other departments in regard to the question of a more effective 194 sea police around the coast of Scotland are now sufficiently advanced to enable Her Majesty's Government to announce the policy which it proposes to adopt in order to protect the interests of line fishermen against the depredations of trawlers?
§ THE LORD ADVOCATEIn reply to the hon. Member, I have been in consultation with the Secretary for Scotland, and hope shortly to be able to make a statement on the subject.