HC Deb 31 March 1952 vol 498 cc1176-7
53. Miss Irene Ward

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the action he has taken with the Government of Iceland arising out of the decision to prohibit our trawlers fishing in coastal waters previously open to them.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the right hon. Gentleman, the Member for Grimsby (Mr. Younger) on 27th March. This matter is under consideration, and I am not in a position to make a statement at present.

Miss Ward

Can my right hon. and learned Friend say when he thinks he will be in a position to make a statement? Have the strongest representations been made to the Icelandic Government?

Mr. Lloyd

I quite appreciate that this is a matter of great importance. It is a matter upon which I myself made certain representations before the new steps were taken. We are in discussion with the Icelandic Government at present on the matter. I can assure my hon. Friend that it is one to which we attach very great importance.

Miss Ward

Would not my right hon. and learned Friend say that we did have a lot of difficulty with the Icelandic Government, and as this matter obviously affects our fishing interests in this country, is it not about time that the Icelandic Government co-operated with us?

Mr. Lloyd

We are in the friendliest possible relations with the Icelandic Government, and I would not endorse any such comment as my hon. Friend has made with regard to that matter. I am still hopeful that this matter can be settled by friendly negotiations and, in the circumstances, I prefer to say nothing more at the present time.

Mr. Kenneth Younger

Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind that, quite apart from any question of the legality of these proposed regulations—I do not want to stress that in any way—it is very important we should try to get the lines of limitation drawn at the right point, and that there may be a question of negotiation here, quite apart from the other legal questions?

Mr. Lloyd

I heartily agree with the right hon. Gentleman. I would remind him that the new line affects Icelandic trawlers just as much as British trawlers.