§ SIR GEORGE DOUGHTY (Great Grimsby)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether, considering the unrest amongst English and Scottish trawl fishermen, he will use any power the Government possesses immediately to repeal Section 7 of the Herring Fishery (Scotland) Act, 1889, and the by-laws there-under by which Moray Firth, embracing 1,000 miles of open sea, is closed against British fishermen; whether the closing of such areas is a distinct breach of international law; whether he is aware that as a consequence German and Norwegian fishery companies have recently been formed for the special purpose of fishing these waters where valuable flat fish abound which cannot be caught by line fishermen; and whether it has come to his knowledge that indignation meetings of English and Scottish fishermen are being held resenting the injustice to them of British cruisers being maintained in these waters to arrest and prevent them earning a livelihood there, while thereby protecting and preserving these waters for the exclusive use of foreign fishermen.
§ MR. ASQUITHThe Government have no intention of repealing Section 7 of the Herring Fishery Act. The closing of the Moray Firth to British fishermen involves no breach of international law. No information has reached us as to the recent formation of bona fide German and Norwegian companies as described. The Bill of the Government will remove any injustice which, under the present circumstances, exists 1243 as between English and Scottish trawlers in respect of trawling in the Moray Firth. Meanwhile, I do not consider that any injustice is caused to English and Scottish fishermen by the maintenance of British cruisers in these waters.
§ MR. CATHCART WASON (Orkney and Shetland)In view of the importance of this matter to the Scottish fisheries, will the right hon. Gentleman consider the propriety of putting down the Bill for an early day?
§ MR. ASQUITHI hope to be able to make a statement to-morrow.