HC Deb 25 November 1909 vol 13 cc472-3W
Mr. ROBERT HARCOURT

asked the Lord Advocate if he will state the reasons why His Majesty's Government are not prepared to agree with the prayer of extensively signed petitions from line fishermen in Forfarshire and Fifeshire, that trawling should be prohibited within three miles of the Bell Bock; and whether or not the Bell Rock is to be considered an island and British territory?

Mr. URE

I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 15th June, 1908, which I am not in a position to supplement.

Mr. PIRIE

asked the Lord Advocate if he can state the result of the inquiries he has made regarding the impeding of target practice of ships of the Home Fleet on 22nd October in the Moray Firth by the presence of numerous foreign trawlers with their trawl nets down; and whether any contravention of the Trawling Act, 1909, has been reported in connection therewith?

Mr. URE

I am informed that the firing of His Majesty's ships in the Moray Firth was in no way impeded by the presence of trawlers on the occasion in question, and no contravention of the Act of 1909 has been reported in connection therewith.