§ 4. Mr. Doddsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he can yet make a statement of the present position in respect to the efforts being made to settle the fisheries dispute with the Icelandic Government.
§ Mr. NuttingI hope to make a statement on the present position of the Icelandic fishery dispute before the Recess.
§ Mr. DoddsI thank the hon. Gentleman for that firm information, for it is only a few days now before the Recess, but will he bear in mind that it is 10½ months since he first asked not to be pressed on this matter? I hope for his sake that, after 10½ months, it will be a good statement.
§ Mr. NuttingAs to the quality of the statement, I can only invite the hon. Gentleman to await what I have to say.
§ Mr. Edward EvansNow that the Overfishing Commission has been set up should not this problem be remitted to the Commission for its examination, because the claim of the Icelandic Government is that the embargo is put on for the conservation of the fishing? If, as I understand, the International Commission is already at work, would that not be the appropriate body?
§ Mr. NuttingWe have anticipated the hon. Gentleman's wish in that respect. The question of the Icelandic fisheries dispute is down on the agenda for the first meeting of the Commission when it takes place.