§ Sir A. SINCLAIRasked the Secretary of State for Scotland, with regard to the findings of the Scottish Departmental Committee on trawling and policing of Scottish sea fisheries, whether the committee of experts appointed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to consider the question of the closure of the Moray Firth has yet reported and, if so, in what terms; when the necessary legislation to give effect to the fifth and sixth recommendations of the Departmental Committee, prohibiting the carrying of otter boards on small vessels and requiring trawlers when in closed waters to have their trawling gear stowed away, will be introduced; when it is proposed to increase the number of fast auxiliary vessels to five as recommended by the Committee; whether sufficient experience has yet been obtained of the wireless installation placed on board one of the cruisers to enable a definite conclusion to be drawn as to its value and, if so, whether it is proposed to equip other cruisers with wireless; whether the scale of the salaries of the chief engineers of the Fishery Board cruisers has been adjusted in the light of their petition and, if so, on what terms; and when it is proposed to introduce legislation to give effect to recommendations eight and nine of the Departmental Committee with regard to increased penalties for illegal depredations by trawlers and the codification and simplification of the Acts relating to Scottish fisheries?
§ Sir J. GILMOURI am informed that the Committee appointed by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea to consider the question of the closure of the Moray Firth to trawling has reported to the Council, but the report has not yet been transmitted by the Council to His Majesty's Government and other Governments. As regards recommendations 5, 6, 8 and 9 of the Departmental Committee, I have reached the conclusion that legislation is not urgently required in view of the diminution of illegal trawling offences, but the position will be kept under constant observation. It is not considered necessary862W at present to add to the number of fast auxiliary vessels or to equip other cruisers with wireless installations. On consideration of the petition from the chief engineers, it was decided that the four chief engineers concerned should receive an addition of £10 to the maximum of the normal scale for the grade.