Fishing Industry (Hansard, 26 February 1976)

§ 3. Mr. Wall
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has made any estimate of the effect which the 599 international introduction of a 200-mile EEZ will have on the British fishing industry.

§ The Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Mr. Fred Peart)
The effect must depend in part upon the outcome of the Community reappraisal of the Common Fisheries Policy and upon possible negotiations with third countries.

§ Mr. Wall
Does the right hon. Gentleman understand that it is essential within the economic zone to provide a 100-mile exclusive zone for the British fishing industry if it is to have a future? What is he doing to prepare now for protection of the 100-mile exclusive and 200-mile international limits?

§ Mr. Peart
I am aware of the industry's views. I shall be seeing the hon. Member and his colleagues in Hull tomorrow. The Government stand by their desire to move to a 200-mile limit. The Community, however, is an important consideration. The document which is before us is being studied carefully.

§ Mr. McNamara
My right hon. Friend will be welcome in Hull to see the trawlers laid up there and to open the new fish dock. Is it the Government's intention in the negotiations to press for an exclusive economic zone of 100 miles for British fishermen and not just to support the idea of a 200-mile international limit? Is that the Government's negotiating position?

§ Mr. Peart
No, it is not the Government's position. That is the view put to us by the industry, and I am looking at it carefully. I shall be anxious to protect our fishery interests, but I do not want to be shackled at the beginning of the negotiations.

§ Mr. Henderson
Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that he will have the support of all sides of the House if he takes a firm stand on the need for a 100-mile exclusive zone within the EEC policy? Will he tell the Community that he regards this as a fundamental national interest and that in the event of the Community failing to understand that position we shall withdraw from Community institutions until it does?

§ Mr. Peart
I get a lot of strange advice from certain quarters. I cannot accept 600 the hon. Member's suggestion. This is a very important United Kingdom issue, not specifically a Scottish nationalist one.

§ Mr. Skinner
Is it not a fact that in this problem as in that of potatoes my right hon. Friend is hampered by British membership of the Common Market? Is it not the case that right across the whole range of foodstuffs we are in difficulties as a result of our membership?

§ Mr. Peart
No, I cannot accept that. I have tried to tell my hon. Friend in a courteous way that he should not fight old battles which have been lost. Britain is now a member of the Community. [Interruption.] If my hon. Friend wants to ask me a question he should stand up to do so.

§ Mr. Skinner
Some people have changed sides.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I decide who will get up to speak.

§ Mr. Peart
It is true that some people change sides. It is necessary to face reality, not to live in a dream world. The simple fact is that the Community has not harmed our potato crop—the damage was done by the bad weather.

§ Mr. Beith
Will the Minister bear in mind that in negotiations concerning the 200-mile limit he faces the particularly important and difficult task of safeguarding the position of our inshore fishermen? Is he aware that if the deep-sea vessels withdraw from other waters into inshore waters, and if there is what has sometimes been called "fruitful swapping" of rights with other countries for waters and rights elsewhere, British inshore fishermen may be deprived of their customary fishing grounds?

§ Mr. Peart
I accept the point made by the hon. Member, who has a tremendous inshore fishing interest in his constituency. I recognise that this sector of the industry is just as important as the distant water fleet. I shall watch the point carefully in the negotiations.

§ Mr. Pym
Will the right hon. Gentleman say when we may expect a statement on the progress of negotiations?

§ Mr. Peart
Yes, I go to Brussels on Monday evening. I hope that we shall 601 get a decision on the price negotiations that week.

§ Mr. Pym
What about fisheries?

§ Mr. Peart
No, I am dealing with the common agricultural policy. I shall have to make a statement to the House because our own Price Review is involved.

§ Mr. Pym
I was asking about fisheries and—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I have not called the right hon. Gentleman to ask another question.

§ Mr. McNamara
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I think there has been some misunderstanding.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I will take any points of order at the end of Question Time.