§ 75. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the President of the Board of Trade what are his plans to regulate and improve in accordance with the latest scientific developments the regulations imposing stabilisers on fishing vessels using the North Sea and Arctic fishing grounds.
§ Mr. CroslandThere are no such regulations. But if, as I assume, my hon. and learned Friend is referring to the general question of trawler stability, I can tell him that my Department is engaged in a very close investigation of the stability characteristics of typical trawlers of the existing distant water fleet in relation to the criteria recommended last year for new vessels by international agreement and with the full support of the United Kingdom in the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation.
The investigation of existing vessels was necessary in order to obtain an appreciation of the size of any problem which might exist and so that consideration of the practical measures which might need to be taken to deal with it might be on an informed basis. The computations for the first few vessels have been completed and the comprehensive data is being studied.