§ Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the President of the Board of Agriculture, whether he has received any representations on the subject of trawling for herrings; and what steps he proposes to take with regard to the matter?
§ The PRESIDENT of the BOARD OF AGRICULTURE (Mr. Runciman)The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The Board have for some years past obtained regular returns of the quantity of herring caught by the trawl and landed at English and Welsh ports with particulars as to the place of capture, and inquiries are now being made as to the meshes of the nets in use with the trawl and the size of the fish taken. The subject has also been brought to the notice of the International Council under whose auspices scientific and experimental investigations will be made during the forthcoming herring season.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYDoes this include Scotland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI would not like to answer for the Scottish Office.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYThen does it exclude Scotland?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANNo, Sir; I did not say so.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYIt must do one thing or the other.
§ Sir ARCHIBALD WILLIAMSONasked the Secretary for Scotland what steps he proposes to take with regard to trawling for herrings?
The SECRETARY for SCOTLAND (Mr. McKinnon Wood)The matter referred to by my hon. Friend is receiving the attention of the Fishery Board for Scotland, and information on the subject will be found in their forthcoming annual Report. I would, however, remind him that trawling is already prohibited in Scottish waters, and that the question of any further prohibition therefore raises international issues. This being so, the British representatives on the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea were instructed to bring the question before the recent meeting of the Council, under whose auspices scientific and experimental investigations will be made during the forthcoming herring season.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONDoes the Secretary for Scotland give us to understand that both the delegates representing the Scottish Fishery Board, as well as the English delegates representing the Board of Agriculture in England, will have the same instructions in this matter?
MARQUESS of TULLIBARDINEIs the right hon. Gentleman watching the progress of present legislation to see that in case there is Devolution or Home Rule for Scotland with regard to national questions, there should also be in regard to questions such as the Fishery Board?
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYCan the right hon. Gentleman say when this Report will be forthcoming?