HC Deb 10 December 1969 vol 793 cc406-7
2. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effects on the British fishing industry of Iceland's proposal to join the European Free Trade Association.

The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)

About three-quarters of Icelandic exports to the United Kingdom, including fresh and frozen whole fish, will be unaffected. The effects of the removal of the 10 per cent. tariff on other fishery products are likely to be less important than those arising from general factors such as fluctuations in the level of production and changes in the attractiveness of other markets, especially in view of the new minimum export price arrangements for frozen fillets which Iceland will observe in common with other Nordic countries.

Mr. Wall

While welcoming Iceland into E.F.T.A., and also the safeguards mentioned by the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask him to confirm that he regards these as sufficient to prevent the dumping of fish on the British market, which is the biggest in Europe?

Mr. Hoy

We hope that they will be sufficient, but we have other reserve powers if they prove not to be.

Mr. Milne

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the E.F.T.A. agreement provides us with a foothold in Europe at the moment and that if we are to have wider European unity the question of association with our E.F.T.A. partners is important? This is why we welcome the recent agreement, and look forward to its development.

Mr. Hoy

In our dealings with our E.F.T.A. partners we have always had great co-operation, and I am grateful that the House thinks that the latest agreement is one more example of that.

Mr. Stodart

Can the right hon. Gentleman give the House a reasonable assurance that the effect on the British fishing industry of this proposal for Iceland to join E.F.T.A. will not be a lowering of the British fisherman's share of his own market?

Mr. Hoy

We hope that that has been safeguarded. When we enter into agreements of this kind the policing will be done by the exporting countries, and we hope that they will go about it in a responsible way. We have no reason to doubt that they will do anything other than that.