§ MR. WEIR (Ross and Cromarty)To ask the Secretary for Scotland if he will state why Scottish Fishery Board cruisers have recently failed to arrest foreign trawlers which they have observed to be trawling in the Moray Firth.
§ MR. WEIRTo ask the Secretary for Scotland, in view of the fact that the failure on the part of the Scottish Fishery Board cruisers to arrest foreign trawlers observed working in the Moray Firth enables such trawlers to trawl until sufficient fish have been caught to pay any fine which may subsequently be imposed, will he consider the expediency of giving instructions for the gear of such trawlers to be seized immediately they are detected working in the Firth.
(Answered by Mr. Sinclair.) In reply to these Questions I have to inform the hon. Member that the point submitted has been carefully considered. In omitting to arrest foreign trawlers detected trawling in the Moray Firth or to seize the gear, the Fishery Board cruisers have acted under instructions advisedly given. Every detection has been reported to the authorities and in many instances prosecution has followed.