§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will make a statement about the incident in the North Sea in which the Aberdeen trawler "Milwood", the Icelandic gunboat "Odinn" and the 164W Royal Navy fishery protection vessel H.M.S. "Palliser" were involved on or about Saturday 27th April.
§ Mr. HeathThe facts appear to be that early on 27th April the "Milwood" having been challenged by the Icelandic gunboat "Odinn" for allegedly fishing illegally within the Icelandic fishery limit, did not stop and was pursued out to sea. H.M.S. "Palliser" was sent to investigate and a rendezvous between the three vessels took place early on 28th April. The Icelandic gunboat subsequently took possession of the "Milwood", and her skipper embarked upon another Aberdeen trawler and later transferred to H.M.S. "Palliser". The "Milwood" was taken to Reykjavik and H.M.S. "Palliser" with the "Milwood's" skipper, Mr. Smith, returned to the United Kingdom on 1st May.