§ MR. MORTON (Sunderland)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether a friendly arrangement could be made with the Norwegian Government to settle the question of trawling in the Moray Firth.
§ SIR EDWARD GREYI have no doubt that the Norwegian Government would be prepared to discuss the question with the view of coming to a friendly arrangement, but I must point out to the hon. Member that an arrangement between two Powers does not bind others and therefore could not dispose of the question. It must also be borne in mind that arrangements with other Powers would involve large questions of policy affecting the British fishing industry, which require careful consideration.
§ MR. MORTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the so-called foreign trawlers are really British vessels built with British capital and possibly improperly, though legally, using the Norwegian flag?
§ *MR SPEAKERThat hardly arises out of the Question on the Paper.