HC Deb 16 October 1968 vol 770 cc358-9
17. Mr. McNamara

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the talks with the European Free Trade Association on the landing of foreign-caught fish.

26. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further progress he has made in his discussions with fellow members of the European Free Trade Association regarding their heavy landings of fish in the Humber ports during the past months; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Hoy

Following discussions with Denmark, Norway and Sweden which brought an unsatisfactory response, we are now considering urgently in the E.F.T.A. Council the question of the high level of their exports to us of frozen fillets.

I should make clear that, except for frozen fillets, United Kingdom imports from E.F.T.A. members of fresh, frozen and semi-preserved fish receive no special treatment.

Mr. McNamara

The Government's inability to reach some sort of agreement with the other countries will give great disappointment to people concerned in the industry here. Will my hon. Friend note our hope that, when he goes to the E.F.T.A. Council, he will be able to get something more positive, and, further, if he fails there, that he will consider taking some sort of unilateral action? Otherwise, all the Government money and Government intervention which is now being taken together will be lost.

Mr. Hoy

I am sorry that we did not reach agreement. I hope that we shall be able to do so in the E.F.T.A. Council. It would be premature for me to anticipate non-agreement, but I am bound to tell the House that, while hoping for an agreement, we recognise that there is a clear limit to how far we are prepared to go to achieve it.

Mr. Johnson

Is my hon. Friend aware that this contentious matter was discussed in the meeting of E.F.T.A. Parliamentarians at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, and we were informed there by Sir John Coulson, the Secretary-General of E.F.T.A., that the Working Party on Fishing within E.F.T.A. had come down solidly against any further liberalisation of imports? Is that not so?

Mr. Hoy

I am not aware of what was reported to hon. Members at that meeting. All I can report is what we have done. We have taken the matter to the E.F.T.A. When I say that we do not want to anticipate non-agreement, I have in mind also that residual action is open to us. We shall certainly consider it if we cannot reach agreement.

Mr. Clegg

In the discussions with the other E.F.T.A. countries, was the level of support given particularly to Norway discussed?

Mr. Hoy

That did not arise. What did arise was the permitted amount which the Norwegians could export to this country as laid down under the 1959 Agreement. Our complaint is that they have exceeded it. We want them to conform to the agreement.

Forward to