HC Deb 02 March 1916 vol 80 cc1186-7
32. Mr. WATT

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the work of the International Investigation of North Sea Fisheries is still proceeding; whether the agreement made in 1914 with the Continental countries, including Germany, to continue the co-operation for other five years, is being carried out; if not, what has been arranged; and are the staff engaged still being paid their salaries?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the BOARD of AGRICULTURE (Mr. Acland)

The work, which now consists mainly of the study of material previously collected, is proceeding. The agreement is being carried out as fully as the state of war will permit, the central organisation being maintained, but on a reduced scale, and its expenses for the current year being met out of the reserve fund. The staff at Copenhagen has been reduced and the three principal remaining members of it are, at their own suggestion, being paid at salaries reduced from 30 to 50 per cent. of the original amounts. The Board's own research staff is very largely reduced and its members are very largely employed in war work. I can let my hon. Friend have details as to this if he desires.

Mr. WATT

Is the information obtained to be supplied to Germany as usual?

Mr. ACLAND

I am not quite sure about that; I hope not.