HC Deb 26 July 1900 vol 86 cc1319-20
MR. PRICE (Norfolk, E.)

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Government made it a condition, when granting a subsidy to the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association, that space should be provided for the carrying on of investigation by such official bodies as the Fisheries Department of the Board of Trade; and whether any naturalist has ever been employed by the Board of Trade or other Government authority to make investigations on fishes at the Plymouth Laboratory; and, if not, will he explain on what grounds.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

In 1885 the Treasury, when agreeing to a grant to the Plymouth Laboratory of the Marine Biological Association, made it a condition "that the Council undertakes to place space in the Plymouth Laboratory at the disposal of any competent investigator deputed by a recognised authority to carry out any investigation into fish questions which the laboratory can give facilities." The Board of Trade have never employed any naturalist to make investigations on fishes at the laboratory, and they have no staff or funds to devote to such a purpose. I have no information as to what has been done by other Government authorities.

MR. PRICE

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether his Department has ever consulted the council of the Marine Biological Association (a body in receipt of public money) on any subject connected with fisheries; and, if so, when and on what subject, and in particular whether the council was consulted with regard to the Bill dealing with undersized fish, now withdrawn.

MR. RITCHIE

The Board of Trade have occasionally consulted the council of the Marine Biological Association on fishery subjects. The latest occasion had reference to the question of the fisheries exhibit at the Paris Exhibition. The inspectors of the Board of Trade have on many occasions consulted the officials of the association in an informal manner. The association were not directly consulted by the Board of Trade as to the Bill dealing with undersized fish, which, however, was founded on the recommendations of the Select Committee of 1893, who took evidence from the association.

MR. PRICE

I beg to ask the President of the Board of Trade whether the Marine Biological Association was consulted with respect to the Fisheries Conference held at Stockholm last year, to which Her Majesty's Government sent several delegates; whether any delegate was selected from the staff or council of that association; and whether he will consider the advisability both of increasing the Government grant to the association to £2,000 a year, and at the same time making use of the information so paid for before entering upon restrictive legislation or international agreements with regard to fishing matters.

MR. RITCHIE

So far as I am aware the Marine Biological Association were not consulted with respect to the Fisheries. Conference at Stockholm, and no delegate-was selected from the staff or council of that association. The question of increasing the grant of public money to the association is one for the consideration of the Treasury. Any information or advice that may be afforded by the association will always receive careful consideration from the Board of Trade, who are most desirous of acting in friendly relation with the association.