HC Deb 02 March 1959 vol 601 cc29-31
45. Mr. Wall

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the proposed agreement with the Danish Government about the fishing limits in the Faroes.

46. Lady Tweedsmuir

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a further statement on the proposed Anglo-Danish agreement concerning fishing limits round the Faroes.

55. Mr. Awbery

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on what date the Anglo-Danish agreement about Faroese fishing limits is expected to take effect; and if he will make a statement.

56. Mr. Edward Evans

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the new agreement reached in relation to the fishing limits in Faroese waters will become effective.

Mr. Profumo

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the hon. Member for Banff (Mr. Duthie) on 26th February. The agreement provides for the new arrangements to come into force on signature, for which no date has yet been fixed.

Mr. Wall

Can my hon. Friend say when the agreement is likely to come into force? Will it be very soon? Will he say that this agreement shows how far the Government and the fishing industry are prepared to go to reach a negotiated solution of these questions?

Mr. Profumo

I can say "Yes" to the last part of my hon. Friend's supplementary question. In reply to the first part of his supplementary question, there is a good deal of preparatory work still to be done before we can bring the agreement into being, and it will have to be done before we sign.

Mr. Edward Evans

Was the agreement signed on the basis of the conservation of the fishing waters there or was there a fear of the Danes that there might be undue competition if our vessels were allowed to fish there? Further, were any concessions made by the Danes in respect of our concession on over-fishing, of which they are one of the biggest operators in herring in the south North Sea?

Mr. Profumo

I am sure that all those considerations were borne in mind.

Lady Tweedsmuir

While welcoming the fact that an agreement has been reached by negotiation, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he is aware that the denial of this fishing ground to Scottish fishermen will have very serious effects? Will this be taken into account by the Fleck Committee when considering the future of the fishing industry?

Mr. Profumo

I must refer that question to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.

Mr. Younger

Will the Government consider approaching Iceland once again now that it has been shown that by reasonable negotiation some agreement may be reached?

Mr. Profumo

I think the right hon. Gentleman knows that we have made it very clear to Iceland that we are prepared to negotiate. I am glad that the right hon. Gentleman has again called attention to this fact.