§ Mr. WEIRasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the recent action of the Russian Government in respect of a proposal to extend the three-mile limit to twelve miles in the waters of the White Sea, and to the fact that the Russian Government are not parties to the North Sea Fisheries Convention of 1882, will he consider the expediency of arranging an international conference with the 850W object of arriving at some agreement under which inshore waters, spawning beds, and other suitable areas for breeding purposes such as the Moray Firth would be closed against beam and other trawling?
Mr. McKINNON WOODUntil the full result of the international investigations, which are proceeding, and the nature of the measures which may be recommended are known, it would be premature to express any opinion on the question of concluding an international agreement for the control of methods of fishing beyond the ordinary three-mile limit.