asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number and nature of the representations, including that of the North-Eastern Sea Fisheries Committee, which he has received about the dumping of industrial waste, both solid and liquid, in the North Sea to the detriment of the North Sea fishing industry; and what steps he has taken and plans to take to protect the fishing industry from these dangers'.

Powers to safeguard fisheries against the dumping of harmful industrial wastes are vested in Sea Fisheries Committees. We have received no recent representations but we are in frequent touch with these committees including the North Eastern Committee about the exercise of their powers. My Department is expanding its research into the possible effects of industrial waste materials on fisheries.