§ 30. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase has taken place in the last six years in the value and quantity of fish landed in Scottish ports by the inshore fishing fleet of Great Britain.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithOver the period 1965–70 there has been a 9 per cent. increase in landings by weight and 47 per cent. by value. With permission, I will circulate the annual figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Sir J. GilmourDo not those figures demonstrate forcibly the need to continue protecting our inshore waters? Is it not essential for the Government to go further than merely reserving their position? Should they not state categorically that they will not accept the Community's fisheries policy?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI have already said, as have Government colleagues of mine, that we find the Community's fisheries policy unsatisfactory. This is precisely why we are taking the matter up with the Community.
§ Mr. MaclennanWhy have the Government left it to the Norwegian Government to make public proposals for the protection of inshore fleets? Why cannot the British Government make proposals for the protection of inshore fleets which can be considered by the Community?
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithEvery Government applying for membership of the Community must make their own tactical assessment of the situation. The Norwegians have approached the matter in their way. They are perfectly entitled to approach it in their way, if they wish to do so.
§ Following are the annual figures:
§ The landings in Scotland of all kinds of fish by British vessels under 80 feet in length were:—
| Weight | Value | ||
| (000 cwt.) | (£000) | ||
| 1965 | … | 5,799 | 13,158 |
| 1966 | … | 6,411 | 14,281 |
| 1967 | … | 5,015 | 14,064 |
| 1968 | … | 5,098 | 15,052 |
| 1969 | … | 5,952 | 16,826 |
| 1970 | … | 6,349 | 19,363 |