§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can now make an announcement as to the personnel and reference of the Interdepartmental Committee about to be appointed to examine questions relating to the interests of British fisheries?
§ Mr. ROBERT HARCOURTasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the conflicting advice offered to the Foreign Office by other Departments as to the policy of extending the three-mile limit for fishery purposes, it is now proposed to appoint an Inter-departmental Committee to inquire into the matter; if so, how the Committee will be constituted; and whether representation will be given to persons entitled to speak on behalf of the line fishermen?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIt is proposed to appoint a Departmental Committee, but 1276 its constitution is not yet fixed. Care will be taken that all interests concerned are either represented or fully heard.
Mr. CATHCART WASONArising out of that answer, may I ask whether this Departmental Committee about to be set up will be able to determine whether the signatories to the North Sea Fisheries Convention should be called together in order to consider the whole question?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say without notice. All relevant questions will be considered by them.
§ Major ANSTRUTHER-GRAYCan the right hon. Gentleman give us any information with regard to the terms of reference?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI cannot say what the precise terms and reference will be. They are not yet ascertained.