§ 33. Mr. Milneasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange to have discussions with the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Convention on the proposals by the Scandinavian countries for the banning of the discharge and dumping of chemical and industrial waste in international waters.
§ Mr. PriorI should not consider these matters appropriate for the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission, but Her Majesty's Government is convening a meeting of North Sea states next month to discuss pollution and dumping in the North Sea. This will be followed by a wider inter-governmental meeting to discuss marine pollution generally.
§ Mr. MilneIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that while his answer gives some satisfaction, the fact that the Fisheries Commission will not be dealing with this matter gives cause for grave doubts about the seriousness of Her Majesty's Government in dealing with pollution in international waters?
§ Mr. PriorThe hon. Gentleman need not be worried about this matter. We are very concerned about it. Marine pollution is already under consideration by other international bodies and we do not want to add to these. However, I have taken note of what the hon. Gentleman said.