§ 27. Mr. Peter M. Jacksonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will undertake consultations with the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with a view to making further representations to the Governments of Denmark, West Germany and Sweden that they observe the proposals put forward by Her Majesty's Government at a recent meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission in respect of salmon fishing.
§ Mr. HoyThere is the closest consultation between my Department and that of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State about the form and timing of all representations on this matter.
§ Mr. JacksonI thank my right hon. Friend for that reply. Would he con- 1334 firm that the Prime Minister has made representations to the Danish Prime Minister on this question? Does he recognise the need for making representations at the highest level to the Prime Ministers of West Germany and Sweden?
§ Mr. HoyMy right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has already done so. We are in constant consultation with the Governments concerned.
§ Mr. StodartIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the opinion expressed by the Director of the Atlantic Salmon Research Trust; namely, that in three years salmon will have reached the point of no return on their way to extinction unless something is done? Does he accept that view as a responsible view?
§ Mr. HoyI would hardly go as far as that. But, as the hon. Gentleman will know, and as the House ought to know, it was this country which gave a lead to both the Atlantic Commissions in dealing with this problem. I assure the hon. Gentleman that consultations are going on because if salmon stocks were to be damaged too severely there would be repercussions not only in Greenland but throughout the world.