§ 18. Mr. Wolrige-Gordonasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that in recent weeks herring have appeared once more in sizeable quantities both off East Anglia and in the Minch; and whether he will publish charts for the last five years setting out clearly the changes in the number and location of the herring caught.
§ Mr. NobleLarge quantities of herring have been caught recently in the Minch but except for a very short period catches off East Anglia have been disappointing. For the last five years charts of the herring catches off the north east of Scotland have been made available to fishermen in the Scottish Fisheries Bulletin. The preparation of similar charts for the Minch is under consideration. As regards East Anglia this is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food.
§ Mr. Wolrige-GordonWhile thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that this is a matter on which as much information as possible is needed? Bearing in mind that the Buchan fisheries have been defunct for the second year in succession and that herring in the East Anglian fisheries season have been exceedingly scarce, we seem to be in danger of destroying the natural resources possibly for lack of information about what is happening. Will he do all that he can to make that information available?
§ Mr. NobleWe do all that we can to obtain information on fisheries subjects and to distribute it to the fishermen as soon as it is available.