Fishery Protection

HC Deb 10 December 1975 vol 902 cc443-4

11. Mr. Donald Stewart

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to increase the fishery protection fleet.

Mr. Hugh D. Brown

I have no plans at present for increasing the fishery protection fleet under my control.

Mr. Stewart

Does the Minister agree that, since the Scottish Office accepted after the war that nine vessels were essential for safeguarding Scottish fisheries, the reduction to six now, one of them allocated to oil-rig duties, leaving five, making about 50 per cent. fewer vessels at a time when the pressures are far higher, is not acceptable protection for the Scottish fisheries?

Mr. Brown

That is typical of the very dishonest and irresponsible approach of SNP Members. The hon. Gentleman himself might have been going around Lewis 20 years ago on a bicycle; now he probably has a car. What I suggest to him is that the protection—

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

Shocking!

Mr. Brown

The protection service changes with the times, and even with a smaller number of vessels we are now able to give a more effective protection service than that given even with nine vessels previously.

Mr. Fairbairn

Does not the Minister appreciate that if the SNP's policy of giving the Icelanders a 200-mile limit were put into effect, there could be a 100 per cent. reduction and that we should not need any protection vessels?

Mr. Brown

I need not comment on that, other than to agree and to confirm that the simplistic approach by the SNP—

Mr. Stewart

What about the protection of Scottish fisheries?

Mr. Brown

The SNP is in danger, perhaps like the fishermen. If the fishermen over-exploit stocks of fish, as the SNP is inclined to over-exploit some of the understandable and natural discontents in the fishing industry, SNP Members, like the fishermen, may end up with no return.

Mr. Sillars

Have salaries anything to do with the problem of manning vessels? If so, is the Government's £6 policy an inhibition in overcoming that problem?

Mr. Brown

No, but my hon. Friend is quite right in that there were crewing difficulties last year, although they were not connected with any Government wages policy. However, there have been big improvements in the salaries and, indeed, the leave allowance has been recently increased, so that is certainly not the problem now.