§ MR. WEIR () Ross and CromartyI beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that the Moray Firth was some time since closed against British trawlers for the purpose of scientific research, and that a number of British owned trawlers, by their recent transfer to the Norwegian Flag, are enabled to fish in the Moray Firth, and thus evade the law which, as British trawlers, excluded them from the Firth, will he consider the expediency of communicating with the Signatories to the North Sea Convention, with a view to ascertain whether it is practicable to come to some understanding with the respective Governments, so that areas like the Moray Firth which are closed for scientific research, may be closed against trawlers of every nationality.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEThe hon. Gentleman put an almost similar question to my right hon. friend the Lord Advocate on December 2nd last. I am afraid I have nothing to add to the reply given to him upon that occasion.†
§ See preceding volume, page 912
656§ *LORD CRANBORNEAt any rate, I can add nothing to the answer given by my right hon. friend.
§ MR. PIRIE () Aberdeen, N.How long is this state of affairs to continue? The injustice has been going on for some years, and we have been repeatedly promised that it should cease.
§ *LORD CRANBORNEI can only say that the answer of my right hon. friend covers the whole question of the hon. Member for Ross and Cromarty.