Fishing Industry

HC Deb 25 March 1976 vol 908 cc614-7

9. 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 would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 29th January. Since then, first-hand prices have fallen in accordance with the usual seasonal pattern. Nevertheless, firsthand prices are still generally well above the levels prevailing at this time in any of the last few years.—[Vol. 904, c. 295.]

Mr. Henderson

Does the Minister accept that one of the most important aspects of the current position in the fishing industry is the renegotiation of the common fisheries policy? Does he consider it helpful for his right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Department of Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, to cut the ground from under the feet of our negotiators by saying yesterday that there is no prospects of getting a 100-mile limit?

Mr. Bishop

The hon. Gentleman should put the matter in perspective. We have often made clear that the United Kingdom has a major interest in the fishing industry within the Community. What matters is not just the limitations— although they are important—but that the British fishing industry in future has access to waters which will give it the catches necessary to maintain viability.

Mr. Prescott

Does my hon. Friend agree that in reconsidering fisheries policies the Government should take into account the consequences of an agreement between Iceland and Britain? The EEC negotiations should deploy a strategy to revamp the industry and give a chance to deep sea ports such as Hull.

Mr. Bishop

I do not think that I need to add to what I have already said. We have done our best in the negotiations with Iceland with much tolerance to look after our industry. Catches in third country waters should be taken into account in the discussions on the future of the CFP. We want to maintain a viable fishing industry and the deliberations of the Law of the Sea Conference and on the CFP will have that in mind. It is difficult to talk about the future shape of the industry until these questions have been resolved.

Mr. Peter Mills

Will the Minister bear in mind that the current position of the fishing industry in the South-West is extremely serious, particularly for mackerel fishing, due to certain fishermen coming down from Scotland and other parts of the world and depleting stocks of mackerel? Will he take steps to see that these stocks are conserved?

Mr. Henderson

Stay out of our waters.

Mr. Bishop

I will resist the temptation to become involved in the family quarrel on the other side of the House. I have no comments to make on the insistence of the Scottish National Party on fishing rights within 200 miles of Scottish shores. The waters around our coasts are British and are available to British shipping.

The hon. Gentleman will know of the discussions we have had about these matters with the producers' organisations. The problem is not one of shortage so much as of good supply. I am hoping to visit the South-West for a couple of days next week to discuss the matter further.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Does my hon. Friend recollect that in our various debates on fishing the Government have always refused to state any definite fisheries policy on the ground that they did not wish to display our negotiating hand for renegotiating the CFP? Did not yesterday's statement give away our negotiating hand?

Mr. Bishop

I do not know to which statement my hon. Friend is referring. If he is referring to the meeting of my right hon. Friend the Minister of State with the Scrutiny Committee, I should tell him that I was present. We did our best to give as much information as possible to that Committee without saying too much. Basically, we have made clear our insistence on ensuring the viability of our fishing industry, which is the major fishing industry in the Community.

Mr. Luce

Is the Minister aware that fishermen off the South coast feel increasingly threatened by the over-fishing of their grounds, due not just to the problems off Cornwall but to abuse of the quota system by Belgian trawlers and over efficient methods of fishing, such as beam trawling? What will he do to protect the interests of the inshore fishermen?

Mr. Bishop

The hon. Gentleman will be aware that we do not regard beam trawling as scientifically bad for the fish stocks. We have insisted on the need for the quota system to be reinforced. This is a matter which we are bearing in mind.

Mr. James Johnson

Does my hon. Friend accept that all these political arguments—the Law of the Sea Conference, the common fisheries policy, and the like—lie ahead, whereas now, both north and south of the Tweed, the fleets are in difficult financial circumstances? Therefore, will he consider immediately some form of operational subsidy by which, as in the past, the situation is salvaged by the payment of so much per day per ship when at sea?

Mr. Bishop

I recognise my hon. Friend's continuing interest in the industry and its problems. Although costs have increased, so have earnings overall. It is interesting to note that the earnings of the Scottish industry, for example, rose by 17 per cent.—that is £1.8 million— in January and February of this year compared with the same period of 1975. I recognise the importance of the points made by my hon. Friend, but he will be aware of the aid that we have given the industry in the past 12 months— including vessel grants, loans, harbour works, scientific support, research and development, as well as the temporary subsidy. My right hon. Friend has said that he will examine any well documented case of overwhelming need if it is put to him.

Mr. Pym

Is the Minister aware of the serious further deterioration in the financial position of the industry since we last debated it five weeks ago, with ships being laid up and sold and workshops being closed down? Is not the position we have reached so serious that the Prime Minister himself should join in discussions with other Heads of State in the Community to bring this important matter to a rapid conclusion? Is it not that serious now?

Mr. Bishop

I appreciate the right hon. Gentleman's concern. But he will know that, under the Treaty of Accession, the present common fisheries policy continues until 1982. In April last year my right hon. Friend said that this was an urgent matter. Talks are still under way. In the fishing debate only a few weeks ago my right hon. Friend said that he would examine any well documented case of overwhelming need for financial aid. I appreciate the points made by the British Trawlers Federation recently and its demand for help for the industry. No one can say that the Government have been late with the aid, last year and at present, which the industry has needed.