§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take against the Grimsby vessel Soroya for carriage of monofilament nets pending his appeal against the court decision on the illegality of this regulation; and how many other vessels he has proceeded against since the court decision.
83W
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonA report is shortly to be submitted by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland against the skipper of the vessel concerning the alleged carriage of these nets. The matter will be referred to the procurator fiscal in Aberdeen for consideration of proceedings. The Lord Advocate has decided that all appropriate cases involving monofilament gill nets will be proceeded with notwithstanding the appeal which the Crown has lodged against the decision of the sheriff at Stranraer.
As far as other vessels are concerned, the numbers of those proceeded against are not centrally held and cannot be obtained except at disproportionate cost.