HC Deb 20 October 1952 vol 505 cc688-90
34. Mrs. Braddock

asked the Minister of Food if he is aware that the trawler owners of Grimsby and Hull have decided to refuse the use of boxes and winches to the Icelandic fishing vessels landing fish; and in view of the fact that this action will deprive this country of large supplies of fish and so cause the price of fish to rise, what action he proposes to take.

Major Lloyd George

Her Majesty's Government are watching the position closely, but it would not be in the general interest to make any statement on the matter at present.

Mrs. Braddock

Is the Minister aware that housewives consider that any action taken by private enterprise which deprives them of food should be considered to be a criminal offence? Is he aware also that the action that has been taken by the Grimsby and Hull Trawlers' Association has deprived this country of approximately £250,000 worth of fish, and will he obtain a copy of the speech made on behalf of the Icelandic Trawler Owners' Association as late as 2nd October, in which they say that they consider this to be a matter for Government action and that it should not be left to private enterprise to deal with it?

Major Lloyd George

I do not want to go into this rather delicate matter in very great detail now. It is being dealt with by the Government, and I have no more to say at the moment. As far as the trawler owners are concerned, as long as they keep within what they are legally entitled to do, the Government cannot interfere; they have not done anything to date, as far as I know, which is illegal.

Mr. Law

May I ask my right hon. and gallant Friend two questions? First, is he aware that the action taken in Grimsby and Hull has the overwhelming support of the fishermen of those ports, whose livelihood has been threatened by the action of the Icelandic Government? Further, is he aware that the action of the Icelandic Government in closing their waters to British and other trawlers has no foundation whatever in international law?

Major Lloyd George

If my right hon. Friend does not mind, I should prefer not to add anything at the moment.

Mr. Younger

While it certainly is true that the fishermen in, I think, all the ports—not only in Hull, but certainly in Grimsby—feel very strongly about this Iceland question, is the Minister nevertheless aware that it is most desirable that this should be settled by diplomatic means and not by a trade war between the private industries of the two countries, which can do no good to either side?

Major Lloyd George

I entirely agree with the right hon. Gentleman.

Mrs. Braddock

Will the Minister obtain a copy of the speech to which I have referred and place it in the Library, so that Members of the House can see the suggestion made by the Icelandic Trawler Owners' Association?

Major Lloyd George

I assume that the speech was published in a periodical, and I should have thought that it might have got into the Library without my putting a copy there.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Can the Minister tell whether the action taken by the trawler owners is in accordance with their existing international obligations?

Major Lloyd George

What I said was that as long as the trawler owners did nothing illegal—to date, they have done nothing illegal; to withhold facilities is not illegal—and as long as they remain within the law, the Government cannot interfere.

Mrs. Braddock

It is criminal.

Lady Tweedsmuir

What is the latest progress in the negotiations with the Icelandic Government?

Major Lloyd George

Perhaps my hon. Friend will put down a Question to my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary.

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