§ 22. Mr. KIRKWOODasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in order to prevent illegal trawling by vessels inside the forbidden limits, he will introduce legislation to punish every such offence by taking the offending vessel into port and keeping it there for a month or longer, according to the nature of the offence, instead of inflicting fines as at present?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND(Sir Godfrey Collins): I would ask the hon. Member to await the presentation of the Bill.
§ Mr. KIRKWOODIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that the captains of these vessels simply laugh at the fines imposed at present, even supposing that they are from £20 to £100, and will he not consider the advisability, instead of putting that punishment on them, of holding up the vessels for a month in port, because that would mean that neither the captain nor the crew would 1638 be paid, and the result would be that they would never do illegal trawling again?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI can assure the hon. Member that the point that he has just made has been fully considered. Perhaps he will await the presentation of the Bill.