Fishing Industry (Hansard, 18 June 1975)

§ 15. Sir John Gilmour
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the Scottish fishing industry will be operating at a profitable level in the second half of 1975.

§ 20. Mr. Henderson
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the current position of the Scottish fishing industry.

§ Mr. Hugh D. Brown
It is too early to make a detailed forecast, though there is some evidence of a recovery in quayside prices of fish. A secure future for the industry depends upon international agreements on the reduction of catches to what fish stocks can sustain. The level of prosperity of the industry in the meantime depends on a number of factors including the quotas available to it as, for example, under the recent recommendations on herring from the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission. These recommendations will require substantial sacrifices in the short term. Arrangements have been to discuss with the catching and processing sides of the 1387 industry the best way of distributing the quantities of herring available.

§ Sir J. Gilmour
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that in view of the reduced quota of catches agreed to at the conference to which he has referred, and the fact that within two weeks financial assistance to the fishing industry will cease, it is urgent for him to make a statement about the Government's policy of help to the fishing industry over the next few months?

§ Mr. Brown
There are two questions here. We are treating as a matter of urgency the problem of herring and the sorting out of arrangements within the quotas. Meetings will be held next week, as I said. On the second matter—the subsidy—we have received a specific application from the Scottish Trawlers Federation for the second half of 1975. It is a very detailed application, which involves many considerations, and we are treating that as a matter of urgency. Obviously, we shall have to make an announcement fairly soon.

§ Mr. Henderson
Does the Minister accept that, in addition to a small increase in fish prices there has been a substantial increase in the number of boats tied up and in the amount of unemployment in fish processing factories? Does he accept that it would be helpful to the fishing industry to have a moratorium on the repayment of loans for a period, to enable the industry to improve its cash flow position? Does the Minister also accept that other countries strongly desire an increase in limits, and will he impress on his right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary the importance of getting into touch with the Norwegian and Icelandic Governments and others who have proclaimed their intention of increasing limits, so that we may all increase our limits at the same time?

§ Mr. Brown
With the best will in the world, I cannot answer 10 questions in one supplementary question. I would point out that the hon. Gentleman is reported as having said that there is only a limited amount of fish in the sea. That is a very profound statement, with which I agree. All the comments that he makes about moratoriums, repayments and limits are relevant, but they do not alter 1388 the fact that there will be a reduction in the amount of fish, particularly herring, that is available to the industry. I think that it is wrong to spread alarm and despondency when we are going into detailed discussions on how best we can look after the industry's long-term interests.