§ MR. WEIRI beg to ask the Secretary for Scotland whether he is aware that the line-fishing industry around the coast of Scotland is being ruined through the action of illegal trawlers, many of which fly the Norwegian flag; and, seeing that the State of Norway was not party to the North Sea Fisheries Convention of 1882, will the Fishery Board for Scotland consider the expediency of framing a bye-law under Section 10 of The Sea Fisheries Regulation (Scotland) Act, 1895, prohibiting vessels flying the Norwegian flag from fishing in either the Minch or Moray Firth.
§ MR. SINCLAIRI am well aware of the conflict of interest to which my hon. friend alludes, but the remedy which he suggests does not seem to offer a practicable solution of the difficulty.
§ MR. WEIRAre not these trawlers really sea robbers, and will not the right hon. Gentleman look at this matter and frame a bye-law?
§ MR. SINCLAIRThat does not arise out of the Question.
§ MAJOR ANSTRUTHER-GRAYCan the right hon. Gentleman suggest no remedy whatever?
§ MR. SINCLAIRWe are endeavouring to find and employ such remedies as are possible.
§ MR. A. WILLIAMSONDo not most of these so-called foreign trawlers hail from Grimsby?
§ MR. SINCLAIRThat is so.
§ MR. SINCLAIRYes, I believe that is the case with this particular class of trawlers.
§ MR. MORTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these trawlers are ruining the fishermen and their families all round the Moray Firth?
§ MR. SINCLAIRThat is rather a controversial question.