asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when he was last in consultation with the Spanish Government with regard to matters concerning the fishing industry, especially the question of over-fishing.

His Majesty's Government was last in consultation with the Spanish Government with regard to matters concerning the fishing industry in February, 1949, when both sent representatives to Washington to discuss the prevention of over-fishing, at the International North-west Atlantic Fisheries Conference called for this purpose.

Can the Minister explain why the Secretary of State for Scotland, in an answer to me during the debate on 25th January, gave the impression that we are now engaged in negotiations with the Spanish Government on this point?

Without notice I cannot say exactly what my right hon. Friend said on that occasion, but we are now contemplating getting into touch with the Spanish Government to try to persuade them to ratify the agreement of 1946.