HC Deb 22 November 1973 vol 864 cc1535-6
6. Mr. Grimond

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals Her Majesty's Government are making about the expansion of British fishing limits.

46. Mr. James Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals Her Majesty's Government are making concerning the expansion of British fishing limits.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Anthony Stodart)

The question of fishery limits is one of the issues to be discussed at next year's Law of the Sea Conference. In the meantime we will continue to act in accordance with existing international law.

Mr. Grimond

Is the Minister aware that the announcement that the Government have no proposals concerning the limit is extremely disappointing, and that precisely because a conference is on the way it is essential that they should have some? Most of the maritime fishing nations are extending their limits, and it is essential that we have proposals at least for the inshore fleet. Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the grave danger to fishing stocks in the North Sea through extensive industrial fishing by foreign countries? Will he put forward proposals for limiting that?

Mr. Stodart

With great respect to the right hon. Gentleman, I did not say that we had no proposals. I said that the question of limits would be discussed at next year's Law of the Sea Conference. As it does not start until next June, it would be unwise at this stage to tell the House what proposals we have. As to fishing in the North Sea, within the next three weeks there is to be a meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission here to discuss the problem.

Mr. Johnson

Bearing in mind that the deep-sea fleet has dearly bought a two-year peace in the Icelandic waters dispute, is the hon. Gentleman aware that leaders of the industry, both owners and unions, believe that there will be a great deal of collective humbug at the United Nations conference, spoken by China in particular and, of course, the Latin American States? What contingency planning is he doing? Is he talking with his EEC neighbours about a change in the 12-mile limits here, perhaps?

Mr. Stodart

I can assure the hon. Gentleman, whom I join in paying tribute to the attitude of the whole industry throughout the difficulties of the Icelandic dispute, that we are having frequent contacts with the industry and its views will be fully noted. We are also in contact with our EEC partners.