§ 9. Mr. Wallasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect of the 10 per cent. tariff on frozen fish fillets from European Free Trade Association countries.
§ The Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. James Hoy)My right hon. Friend expects the home industry to benefit but it is difficult, especially in the short term, to isolate the various factors which influence fish supplies and prices.
§ Mr. WallDoes the right hon. Gentleman expect the level of imports to be reduced to the figure given in the Annexe of the Stockholm Agreement over a period of months? Can he say whether the reduction in imports has led to an increase in the price of fish?
§ Mr. HoyThe action we took was to keep imports down to what had been agreed and we hope that it will be successful.
§ Mr. James JohnsonIs my hon. Friend aware that the comments and statements by the Minister when he visited Hull Fish Dock last week were well received by all sections of the fishing industry there? When will the President of the Board of Trade be dealing with these matters with other E.F.T.A. Ministers?
§ Mr. HoyI am grateful for what my hon. Friend has said but, as he knows, we are to have further conversations with our E.F.T.A. partners some time this year.