HC Deb 15 July 1964 vol 698 cc1173-5
3. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the number and names of British inspection vessels in the fishing waters of the North Sea; and what incidents have occurred there during the last month.

The Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy (Mr. John Hay)

Her Majesty's ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron do not undertake continuous patrols of the North Sea but make frequent visits to fishing grounds. H.M.S. "Wotton" is at present in the area. No incidents have been reported.

Mr. Hughes

Does the Under-Secretary agree that the British Fishery Protection vessels in the area are very much fewer in number than those of foreign countries and that this encourages foreign nations to encroach upon British fisheries? Will he see that the British Fishery Protection Squadron is kept up to date in the interest of British fishermen and also in the interest of the fish-eating public?

Mr. Hay

I am sorry that I cannot agree with the hon. and learned Member on the first two parts of his supplementary question. I am not aware that we are thinner on the ground than other nations, nor am I aware that as a result other nations are persuaded to fish in traditional British waters. We believe that the Fishery Protection Squadron provides adequate protection, and although we are now looking at the whole situation in the light of the Fishery Limits Bill, nevertheless we think that what we are doing is about right.

Mr. Hughes

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Bill increases the need to keep our Fishery Protection Squadron up to date, and will the hon. Gentleman see that it is kept up to date?

4. Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make a further statement on the working of the system of British inspection ships in the fishing waters near the Faroes, indicating how many and which of these ships are working there and what incidents have occurred.

Mr. Hay

I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply which I gave him on 22nd April last. H. M. ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron have continued to patrol the area. H. M. S. "Keppel", at present on patrol off the Faroes, has been on patrol since 9th July. The duties of these ships have remained as previously stated in my replies to the hon. and learned Member, and I am glad to report that there have been no incidents involving either H. M. ships or British trawlers.

Mr. Hughes

Will the Under-Secretary agree that it is of the utmost importance to preserve harmony between the various fishing fleets using the relevant waters? Does he agree that if our fishery protection vessels are much smaller in number than those of other nations this encourages those of other nations to encroach upon British fishing grounds? Will he look at the matter also from that angle?

Mr. Hay

I must confess to a certain degree of confusion as a result of that supplementary question. I thought that this was a Question about the Faroes. As for the British Fishery Protection Squadron, I have nothing to add to the replies which I have previously given to the hon. and learned Member.

Sir C. Osborne

Have there been any complaints from the British Trawler Federation about the inadequacy of the protection?

Mr. Hay

No, Sir, not to my knowledge.

8. Commander Kerans

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many additional fishery protection vessels will be needed when the Fishery Limits Bill comes into force.

Mr. Hay

I regret that at present I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 8th July.

Commander Kerans

Is there not here an occasion when the Royal Navy could increase the number of its fast patrol boats, especially M. G. B. s, and has my hon. Friend seen the letters in The Times from Peter Scott and the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on this subject? Is there not here a great opportunity for the Navy to increase its Coastal Forces, which did so well during the last war?

Mr. Hay

I have seen those letters. As I said in answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice at the beginning of the month, these matters are under urgent consideration. We shall bear in mind the suggestion my hon. and gallant Friend has made, which has been made on a number of occasions previously.

Mr. Hector Hughes

Does the Minister agree with the argument in my letter to The Times to which the hon. Gentleman referred, and does he agree that the Fishery Limits Bill increases the obligation on Her Majesty's Government to see that our protection forces are kept at full strength?

Mr. Hay

From time to time there are things in The Times with which I do not entirely agree, and this, I fear, is one of them.