HC Deb 26 January 1977 vol 924 cc1471-4
4. Mr. Sproat

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to meet representatives of the fishing industry.

16. Mr. Buchanan-Smith

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of fish stocks available to the Scottish fishing industry in 1977; and if he will make a statement.

21. Mr. Alexander Fletcher

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the inshore fishing industry in Scotland.

The Under-Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. Hugh D. Brown)

My right hon. Friend and I are always available to meet representatives of the fishing industry to discuss specific or general questions and in fact have had meetings with them on a number of occasions in recent months.

The prospects for the fishing industry depend upon a successful outcome of the discussions in the European Community on various issues relating to the common fisheries policy. Nevertheless, it is satisfactory that the economic position of the industry in Scotland improved substantially in 1976, and I am hopeful that, despite uncertainties about future fishing levels, this welcome trend will continue.

Mr. Sproat

Is the Minister aware of the deep discontent in the industry over the way in which the Government are allowing fishing matters to drift? Is he further aware that the Secretary of State's conservation measures, announced the other day—good as far as they go—are totally inadequate, and that what is needed is a much tighter control over industrial fishing and over the activities of individual and freezer trawlers?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman's alliteration is good—"deep discontent" and "drift"—but the content is poor. If he was not present, he should re-read the statement made by my right hon. Friend last week. There was general acceptance that we were on the right lines with regard to priorities on conservation measures.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

In what way did the hon. Gentleman attempt to answer Question No. 16? Is he not trying to hide his own incompetence in standing up for the fishing industry by trying to give one answer to a series of different Questions? Having said that, Mr. Speaker, I would say to the Under-Secretary that, if he is prepared to stand up—

Mr. Speaker

Order. This is not the time for speeches. It is Question Time.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

Yes, Mr. Speaker, but I wish that the hon. Gentleman would attempt to answer the Questions in the first place. Will the hon. Gentleman be assured that he will have the support of the Opposition if he will stand up with the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in protecting British interests in the North Sea?

Mr. Brown

The one thing I congratulate the hon. Member on is that he, at least, has the guts to criticise me in the House, unlike some of his hon. Friends from non-fishing constituencies. But he, better than anyone else—I have complimented him in the past on the marginal efforts that he put in at the time of the Treaty of Accession—should know that we have been left with this negotiating position because of his Government's incompetence.

Mr. Fletcher

Will the hon. Gentleman recognise that the fishing industry cannot survive, let alone thrive, in the present uncertain conditions, and will he seriously apply himself to giving the industry some reassurance about its prospects in the immediate future and the date on which the Government intend to complete their negotiations on the new common fisheries policy?

Mr. Brown

The hon. Gentleman, who is very knowledgeable in European matters, will know that he has not convinced one member of any Christian Democratic Party in Europe of the merit of 50-mile exclusive limits.

Mr. Fletcher

indicated dissent.

Mr. Brown

There is no point in the hon. Gentleman shaking his head and trying to shrug off the political atmosphere in which we are conducting debates in the EEC in general terms. I give the hon. Gentleman the assurance that the Government are aware of the uncertainty because of these interim arrangements. In the light of statements made by both of my right hon. Friends last week I am confident that we are making progress, and that is understood by the fishing industry.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Is my hon. Friend aware of EEC proposals to lift Customs duty on certain species of prime fish? If he is, will the Government oppose that?

Mr. Brown

That is a separate matter, which has been reported in the Press only today, following a statement by the British Fishermen's Federation. All that I am prepared to say is that I agree with the general trend of the statement by the federation that we should use the economic power of the European Community in the interests of its members. If that means taking action against liberal imports, I personally am in favour of that.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

May I speak to the Minister about the lower end of the fleet, the smaller boats—

Mr. Speaker

Order. The hon. Lady may ask a question.

Mrs. Winifred Ewing

May I ask the Minister whether he considers that the lower end of the fleet could be an easier matter in his negotiations than the upper end of the fleet? It does not cover all the constituencies in Scotland, but it concerns some—namely, boats of 50 feet to 65 feet or, alternatively, measured by 250 h.p. Is the Minister aware that Commissioner Gundelach is most sympathetic to the possibility that such boats should be totally exempt from quotas? Does he agree, therefore, that we could deal satisfactorily with that area of negotiation?

Mr. Brown

There are so many members of the SNP speaking on fishing policy that I am not clear whether that is an official statement on behalf of the party—[HON. MEMBERS "Answer the question."] I shall answer it. I must say that I have never heard the phrase "the lower end of the fishing fleet". I am not too clear what that means. But if it means, generally, the inshore industry—

Mrs. Winifred Ewing indicated dissent.

Mr. Brown

Then I do not know what the hon. Lady is talking about. If she is making a constructive comment, I shall give it the consideration due to it.