Mr. CATHCART WASONasked whether, in view of the expense entailed on the county council of Shetland by the necessity of continued inspection of the whaling stations, the Fishery Board of Scotland would either undertake such inspection at its own cost or hand over the fees derived from whaling licences to the county council?
§ Mr. UREThe Fishery Board for Scotland undertakes certain duties of inspection necessary for the execution of the Whale Fisheries Act, 1907, but the sanitary inspection referred to is a statutory duty of the local authority. The sums received by the Board in respect of licences are extra receipts payable into the Exchequer and are not available for the purpose suggested.
Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Lord Advocate whether, in view of the fact that since the whaling companies started their operations in Shetland the herring stations on the west coast of Shetland had been practically ruined, he would, in order to enforce By-law No. 22 made by the Fishery Board for Scotland with reference to killing of whales from the 1st June to 5th July, prohibit the landing of whales in Shetland during the same period?
§ Mr. UREI am not to be taken as assenting to the implication contained in the first part of the question, but in any case the Government do not at present contemplate fresh legislation in the matter referred to by my hon. Friend.