§ Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a 48W statement on the use by the Royal Navy in the North Sea of hovercraft to bring speedier action against poachers and foreign trawlers which cut nets of British herring drifters, indicating the number of instances in which they have been used during the last six months and with what results.
§ Mr. J. P. W. MallalieuEarlier this month one of the Royal Navy's hovercraft from the Inter-Service Hovercraft Trials Unit carried out a fishery protection patrol in Home Waters. The present limited endurance of these craft may be a drawback as far as fishery protection is concerned but we are carefully considering their possible rôle in the light of this trial.