§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the recent boom in the shellfish industry, the annual value of the Scottish catch of which is now over £1,300,000, which represents a 400 per cent. rise in 10 years; and what steps he is taking to assist the extension of this industry.
§ Mr. NobleI am, of course, aware of this development and various steps have been taken to encourage it including the installation, originally at Government expense, of the first lobster storage tanks in Scotland. Numerous investigations have also been made by my Department's scientists into the distribution and strength of the stocks of lobsters and other shellfish in Scottish waters. To assist with this programme,62W it is proposed shortly to add a vessel to the research fleet for work in shallow waters.