Oral Answers to Questions — Scotland – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 December 1964.
Mr Patrick Wolrige-Gordon
, Aberdeenshire East
12:00,
16 December 1964
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for improving the present system of fishery protection for inshore waters.
Mr William Ross
, Kilmarnock
I think the present arrangements are generally adequate, but I shall certainly keep the whole question under careful review.
Mr Patrick Wolrige-Gordon
, Aberdeenshire East
Is the Secretary of State aware that that is a rather disappointing reply, as there is increasing dissatisfaction among fishermen and other people at the degree of protection afforded against poaching and against foreigners? Is he not aware that modern techniques of breaking the law in this respect seem to have outstripped by far the means of enforcing the law and that we need a far more determined approach by the Government to help the fishermen?
Mr William Ross
, Kilmarnock
While I can agree with the hon. Gentleman, I thought that the reply I gave in the first place was very satisfactory.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.