HC Deb 19 July 1897 vol 51 cc394-6
MR. J.G.WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)

I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government has any intention of approaching the signatories to the North Sea Convention, with a view to an extension of the limit for illegal trawling from three to thirteen miles; and, if so, will he state when it is proposed to move in the matter?

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

I think that this is the third time during the present Session that I have answered the same question from the hon. Member in the negative.

MR. WEIR

May I remind the right hon. Gentleman that this is the third time I have asked him whether the Foreign Office have taken any steps in the matter. To-day I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether the Foreign Office have any intention of taking any steps in the matter; will the right hon. Gentleman answer that part of my Question which has not been put before?

*MR. CURZON

I apologise to the hon. Gentleman if I misunderstood his Question. I now answer his second Question as I answered the first.

MR. WEIR

The right hon. Gentleman has no intention. Very well. I beg to ask the Lord Advocate if he will state whether the contract for the Scottish Fishery Board's new cruiser, which was to be finished on the 1st inst., has yet been signed; and, if not, will he state the cause of the delay?

*THE LORD ADVOCATE (Mr. GRAHAM MURRAY, Buteshire)

No contract has yet been signed, as the first offers received were not satisfactory. The Fishery Board are anxious to get a vessel suitable for the work required, and negotiations for the purpose have been somewhat more protracted than was expected.

CAPTAIN PIRIE (Aberdeen, N.)

I beg to ask the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the great importance of the scientific investigations carried on by the Fishery Board to the fishing industry, he will urge upon the Government the necessity of carrying out the recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee on Sea Fisheries, 1893, to supply the Board immediately with an efficient seagoing vessel to replace the small and ill-equipped Garland, which has been for some years used for this work by the Board, and has also been reported upon by it as inadequate for the requirements of the present time?

*THE LORD ADVOCATE

As the hon. Member is no doubt aware, there is no money at the disposal of the Fishery Board to carry out the proposed change within this financial year. The question will receive consideration.