HC Deb 19 March 1907 vol 171 cc665-6
MR. STANLEY WILSON (Yorkshire, E.R., Holderness)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether there is any precedent for the prosecution of any subordinate member of the crew of a fishing vessel for an offence committed by the vessel at sea; and whether it has been the regular practice of all the maritime Powers of the North Sea to hold the master of the vessel, as the representative of the owner, solely responsible.

THE SECRETARY TO THE BOARD OF TRADE (Mr. Kearley,) Devonport

My right hon. friend has asked me to reply to the hon. Member's Question. The Board of Trade are not aware of a subordinate member of the crew of a fishing vessel having been prosecuted in the circumstances referred to. I believe it is the practice of the North Sea maritime Powers to regard the skipper as responsible in such circumstances.

MR. STANLEY WILSON

Arising out of that Answer, may I ask if the hon. Gentleman is aware that prosecutions of subordinates are taking place at the present time in Scotland—such men are in fact being prosecuted to-morrow?

MR. KEARLEY

I do not represent the Scottish Office; I therefore cannot answer the Question.

MR. STANLEY WILSON

I thought the hon. Gentleman might like to know.