§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, if he will state whether tenders for the new fishery cruiser for the Scottish Fishery Board were made on the specification dated 20th March 1897, or on an altered specification; if on an altered specification, will he explain the nature, of the alterations, and what difficulties have arisen to cause so serious a delay in proceeding with the construction of this cruiser?
§ *THE LORD ADVOCATEThe Fishery Board are of opinion that it is not in the interests of the public service that negotiations not yet completed should be made public. No time has been unnecessarily occupied in these negotiations.