§ 24. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number and nationalities of foreign fishing vessels which have fished in the Moray Firth during each of the last ten years, the amounts of their respective catches in crans landed in British ports; and the value of each catch.
§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. John Maclay)I shall, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number and nationality of foreign trawlers observed fishing in the Moray Firth in each of the last ten years. Such trawlers are not allowed to land fish in the United Kingdom for a period of two months after being so observed, and I have no information about their catches.
§ Mr. HughesCan the Secretary of State say why the Government continue to neglect the British fishing industry in favour of invasions such as those set out 19 in my Question and in the very long table which will be circulated, especially in view of the restrictions on territorial waters imposed by foreign Governments on British fishing vessels?
§ Mr. MaclayAs the hon. and learned Member knows, the Government pay
| STATEMENT SHOWING NUMBER OF FOREIGN TRAWLERS OBSERVED IN MORAY FIFTH, 1950–61 (Year ending 19th October) | ||||||||||||
| Nationality | 1950–51 | 1951–52 | 1952–53 | 1953–54 | 1954–55 | |||||||
| Trawlers | Occasions | Trawlers | Occasions | Trawlers | Occasions | Trawlers | Occasions | Trawlers | Occasions | |||
| Total | … | … | 36 | 159 | 30 | 200 | 32 | 165 | 32 | 172 | 29 | 148 |
| Dutch | … | … | 2 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Belgian | … | … | 34 | 154 | 30 | 200 | 30 | 161 | 26 | 163 | 23 | 140 |
| French | … | … | — | — | — | — | 1 | 3 | — | — | 1 | 1 |
| Swedish | … | … | — | — | — | — | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 |