§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Lord Advocate, as representing the Secretary for Scotland, whether he is aware that page 17 of the Appendix to the Report of the Congested Districts Board for Scotland shows that a considerable fishing industry is carried on in the Ness district of the parish of Barvas, Lewis, and that, although the fishermen have the reputation of being among the best boatmen in the Western Highlands, there are frequent boating disasters due to the want of harbours where large boats can be anchored, and will he say whether the question of providing this district with suitable harbour accommodation will be considered.
*MR. A. GRAHAM MURRAYThe question of erecting harbours on the 955 west coast of Lewis was considered some years ago, and it was thought that, as this coast is exposed to the full violence of the Atlantic, and as in the Barvas parish there are no sheltered places, it would be impossible to build a fishing harbour for any reasonable sum. The Ness district also has about eleven miles of coast on the north-east side. A harbour and a boat slip have been recently built in this district with Government assistance, and no applications have been made for further help.