§ MR. MALLET: (Plymouth)To ask the hon. Member for South Somerset, as representing the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether in view of the numerous cases of damage caused off the South Coast of Devon and Cornwall to the fishing gear of English fishing vessels by foreign steam trawlers, he will impress upon the Government Departments concerned the necessity of taking more effective action to protect the fishermen against their repetition.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd George.) The Board of Trade and the Admiralty are 102 alive to the necessity of protecting British fishing interests in the Channel, and in this connection I would draw the attention of my hon. friend to the reply given on the 29th ultimo by the Secretary to the Admiralty to the hon. Member for the Totnes Division of Devonshire, showing that the Department concerned are now considering the question.† I may add, however, that in cases of damage done by French trawlers to the gear of British fishing boats in the Channel, representations will be made to the French Government whenever such action appears possible.