§ 7. Mr. Nicholas Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has concluded his consideration of the problems facing the Milford fishing industry; and whether he will make a statement.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for Wales (Mr. Barry Jones)I am not able to add to the reply my right hon. and learned Friend gave to the hon. Member on 17th June.—[Vol. 875, c. 58.]
§ Mr. EdwardsIs the hon. Gentleman aware that it is more than a month since the facts were first presented by me to the Government and at least three weeks since his Department agreed to look again at those facts? Is he unable to take a decision on the matter, or has he no intention of doing anything about it? When does he hope to bring the whole unnecessarily prolonged deliberations to an end?
§ Mr. JonesWe do not accept that the Government have been delaying or are slow to respond. Both my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State have kept closely in touch with the situation in recent weeks, and when it was decided that a further on-the-spot report was required that was done very quickly indeed.