31. Major WOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given further consideration to the question of allowing foreign trawlers to fish in the Moray Firth; and whether he is now in a position to say what action has been taken or is proposed by the Government?
Mr. W. ADAMSONThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As was stated in the Debate on the Scottish Estimates on the 3rd June, the Moray Firth question is the subject of discussions with the other Departments concerned. It is a difficult and complicated problem, as the hon. and gallant Member realises, but the efforts to find a solution of the difficulties are proceeding without any avoidable delay.
Major WOODCannot the right hon. Gentleman give the fishermen some assurance that something is actually being done besides merely having the matter considered?
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs not all this trouble in the Moray Firth arising from the fact that Lord Grey of Fallodon, the great Foreign Minister of the Liberals, left the Moray Firth open?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat question does not arise.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONCan the right hon. Gentleman tell the House what is the cause of the delay?
Mr. ADAMSONI have already stated in my reply to the hon. and gallant Member for Banff (Major Wood) that efforts to find a solution of the difficulty are proceeding without any avoidable delay.
Major WOODCan the right hon. Gentleman give us some idea when he will be able to make a definite state- 218 ment as to what he proposes to do? May I have an answer to that question?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEAs English trawlers——[Interruption.]
§ Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEOn a point of Order. I wish to ask you, Mr. Speaker, seeing that supplementary questions have been put both from the Liberal benches and the Socialist benches, and that this matter concerns British trawlers, if I may have an opportunity of putting a question?
§ Mr. SPEAKERWe have already had four or five supplementary questions upon this matter.
§ Mr. SPEAKERMr. Ramsay.