§ 13. Lady Tweedsmuirasked the Lord Privy Seal whether he will protest to the Icelandic Government on the arrest of the m.t. "Ben Lui" for alleged illegal fishing, despite evidence given by the skipper and advisory skipper of the "Ben Lui" and officers of H.M.S. "Russell" that the trawler was outside the fishing limits line.
§ 5. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Lord Privy Seal if he is aware that on or about 19th April Icelandic authorities stopped and arrested off Iceland the Aberdeen trawler "Ben Lui"; if he will give details of this episode; if he will set up an authoritative commission of inquiry into it; and if he will take steps to prevent a repetition of such occurrences in future.
§ Mr. P. ThomasThe trawler was arrested on 18th April. Officers of the fishery protection ship H.M.S. "Russell", who came to the scene of the arrest and took position fixes, gave evidence on the trawler skipper's behalf in court proceedings which began the same day. On 23rd April, the trawler was convicted of illegal fishing and fined£2,200, plus costs and forfeiture of her catch and gear. A financial guarantee was placed to cover the sums involved, and the owners have appealed against the verdict. The case is, therefore, still before the Icelandic courts and a commission of inquiry would not be appropriate. Nor would it be appropriate for Her Majesty's Government to take any action at this stage, although we shall naturally keep a close watch on the case.
§ Lady TweedsmuirIs my hon. Friend aware that this appeal may not be heard for six or nine months? In view of the conclusive evidence given by our own fishery protection vessel that our own ship was outside Icelandic territorial waters and, therefore, not subject to Icelandic jurisdiction, does he not agree that this case will cause very great concern, not only to skippers sailing from the port of Aberdeen but to all skippers 1004 sailing from all ports and fishing near Icelandic waters? Therefore, as my hon. Friend is answering this Question together with that put down by the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) who, unfortunately, is ill, and as both hon. Members for Aberdeen feel unanimously on this subject, does my hon. Friend not think that, in those circumstances, either a protest should be made or a commission of inquiry established as, indeed, occurred in the "Red Crusader" incident?
§ Mr. ThomasRegarding the first part of that supplementary question, I certainly hope that the appeal will be heard sooner than my hon. Friend suggests. It is, of course, a very important case and I certainly accept that great concern is felt about the facts that I mentioned. I still think that, although the points my hon. Friend mentioned are important, it would be premature for me to comment on them pending the outcome of the appeal in the Icelandic courts.
§ Dame Irene WardIs my hon. Friend aware that the port of North Shields is interested in this case? I do not think that my hon. Friend's Answer was at all satisfactory. Will he kindly explain whether he has already made representations to the Icelandic Government against the treatment of the evidence that was given by the fishery protection vessel? Are we not Great Britain? Are we not entitled to have our evidence properly treated and proper consideration given to it? Cannot my hon. Friend stand up for Great Britain and our rights and not be quite so satisfied with the answers that have been given and which, I think, are not at all satisfactory?
§ Mr. ThomasI can assure my hon. Friend that we will certainly stand up for Great Britain and the fishing trawlers in this particular matter. I just suggested that we must bide our time until the outcome of the appeal. As soon as the appeal is known, I can assure my hon. Friend that we will make the fullest possible submissions to the Icelandic Government, should they be necessary.
§ Mr. HoyIs not the hon. Gentleman aware that it is not good enough for 1005 the Foreign Office merely to say that we must wait for the outcome of the appeal? The House would like to know what steps the Foreign Office is taking to support the case of this particular vessel. Since on the two previous occasions it was found in the Court of Appeal that the offending Government was wrong—and in the most recent case of the "Red Crusader" that the British vessel was in the right—may I ask what steps his Department is taking to prevent incidents of this kind from arising? Will he persuade the Icelandic Government to do something?
§ Mr. ThomasRegarding the "Red Crusader", it would be wrong to say that it was found that the British vessel had been entirely in the right. Fault was found on both sides. Regarding the Foreign Office, our representative in Iceland is giving every possible assistance to the owners in the presentation of this case.