HC Deb 17 February 1960 vol 617 c1284
41. Mr. Hayman

asked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what has been the additional cost of giving extra protection to fishing vessels in Icelandic waters since 1st September, 1958, because of Iceland's introduction of a 12-mile fishing limit.

Mr. C. Ian Orr-Ewing

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bodmin (Mr. Marshall) on 15th February.

Mr. Hayman

Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that while no one grudges £500,000 extra for giving protection to British fishing vessels in northern waters, we in Cornwall feel that the Minister of Transport is pursuing a very mean economy in refusing to continue a constant watch especially for protection for Cornish fishing vessels, especially when it is remembered that we have 300 miles of coastline?

Mr. Orr-Ewing

We have reorganised and strengthened our fishing protection squadron since the Iceland patrol was started. I see from the figures that in 1957, before the Iceland patrols began, we made infrequent appearances off the Cornish coast and caught only one poacher. In 1959, we made 92 appearances, six poachers were caught and four successfully prosecuted.

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