asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what States are at present members of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea; what action has been taken following the conference held at Bergen in 1959, to elucidate measures to protect arctic cod against over-fishing; and what investigations are being carried out by the Council at the present time.

As regards the first and third parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question of 20th February. As a result of the recommendations of an international group of scientists appointed at the Bergen conference, the Permanent Commission set up under the 1946 Over-Fishing Convention has agreed on an early increase of the mesh-size for northeastern waters. A similiar investigation is in progress as regards the waters round Iceland.