Fishing Industry (Hansard, 31 July 1975)

§ 5. Mr. Wall
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the continuation of the operational subsidy for fishing vessels.

§ 53. Mr. Henderson
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the current position of the fishing industry.

§ Mr. Bishop
I refer the hon. Members to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) on 29th July.

§ Mr. Wall
Further to the Minister's decision to continue subsidies, will he agree that that is only a temporary palliative? It is now 14 years since the Fleck Commission reported, and the industry again faces all the uncertainties inherent in the possible extension of our fishing limits to 200 miles. Will the hon. Gentleman give careful consideration to setting up an independent commission to consider the future of the industry on the lines recommended by the Fleck Commission?

§ Mr. Bishop
I hope the hon. Gentleman will realise that this financial aid is an extension of the aid given in the past six months. It was given in a situation in which we realised that certain difficulties have to be overcome in order to ensure the viability of the industry. In our announcement of the initial subsidy or financial aid we said that in the long run the industry must obtain its return from the market.
The industry does not want to depend on long-term subsidies. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that changes are taking place in the common fisheries policy. The question of the future of the industry is tied up with limits, access, quotas and other aspects. I assure the hon. Gentleman that my right hon. Friend is losing no time in pressing all these matters in Brussels, as he did in April and as he has done since, in order to help the industry become viable.

§ Mr. Henderson
Is the Minister satisfied that this is enough for the industry at this time, when it is in these difficulties? Does he accept that it would be extremely helpful to the industry and would cost the taxpayer very little if there were a moratorium, for a period, on the repayment of loans to the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board and that this would go a long way towards improving the temporary cash flow while the Government sort out the long-term future of the industry?

§ Mr. Bishop
I value the hon. Gentleman's appreciation of the aim of the present subsidies. However, I assure him that the repayment of loans is, among 2031 other matters, being borne in mind at present, because the industry's future is still under consideration. We hope that the financial aid that has been welcomed by the industry will help to give it some confidence about the future.

§ Mr. Beith
I welcome the fact that the Government have agreed to extend the period of aid. Does the Minister agree that before the period expires it is important that the Government should make a serious study of the future requirements and size of the fishing fleet? Is he aware that there has been a great loss of confidence, because it is felt that the Government are simply prepared to allow a decline in the industry? Will the Minister ensure that that study will be carried out during the period of this temporary respite? Has there been any evidence over the past six months to support the decision to exclude boats shorter than 40 ft from the limits for aid?

§ Mr. Bishop
The hon. Gentleman will realise that the decision to give no aid to vessels under 40 ft in length was considered in relation to structural aspects applying to those vessels eligible for aid. I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern and that of the industry about the long-term future of the industry. These matters are tied up with other considerations, for example, the Law of the Sea Conference, the common fisheries policy, and other matters which are now under urgent consideration by the Government.

§ Mr. Hicks
Will the Minister explain to the House and the inshore fishing industry why it has been discriminated against for the second time in six months? Are not that industry's problems, in their own way, just as great as those of the middle-distance and deep-water fishing fleets?

§ Mr. Bishop
I deny that there has been any discrimination. The subsidy announced in February, for the first six months of this year, covered those parts of the industry which are responsible for 90 per cent. of the catch. The hon. Gentleman will know that we have had to clip some money off the longer vessels and maintain the policy of the previous subsidy in not giving help in respect of those boats under 40 ft in length. We do not believe that the structural considerations applying to vessels eligible for aid 2032 apply in the case of vessels under 40 ft, although we appreciate that there are difficulties. The subsidy is only a temporary aid until other matters are sorted out. We shall certainly bear in mind the problems to which he has referred.