20. Mr. W. H. K. Bakerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by whom he will be represented at the West European Fishing Conference in Aberdeen in September of this year.
§ Mr. HoyI understand this will be a private meeting of European trawler owners, and the question of Ministerial representation does not, therefore, arise.
Mr. BakerIf it does not arise on the Ministerial plane, would the right hon. Gentleman not consider sending an official to the meeting?
§ Mr. HoyI am afraid that this is a private meeting among the trawler owners themselves. Since we are not invited to it, we can hardly ask them to invite an official to a private meeting. If they want to have one, we shall be delighted to co-operate.
§ Mr. Hector HughesDoes my right hon. Friend realise that it is very important that he should be represented by an expert and authoritative person, having regard to the various problems in the North Sea which are outstanding, such as poaching and the safety of life at sea?