Scottish Fishermen's Federation (Hansard, 19 December 1979)

§ 1. Mr. Myles
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will meet next the chairman of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation.

§ The Secretary of State for Scotland (Mr. George Younger)
I met representatives of the fishing industry, including the president of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation, on 29 November to discuss progress towards a settlement of the common fisheries policy and again during the Council of Ministers on 3 December. Arrangements will be made to meet the industry again before the next Council takes place.

§ Mr. Myles
If the hoped-for discussions with the chairman of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation take place soon, will my right hon. Friend consider declaring a moratorium on interest on White Fish Authority loans? Will he bear in mind the ever-increasing costs that are borne by the fishermen and that the money that those fishermen get decreases with the ever-decreasing quotas and the effect of imports?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. If that was a brief question, I congratulate the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Younger
That is not a proposal that we have considered so far. There would be difficulties in making an exception for interest rates on such a matter. I am conscious of the difficulties that the 600 fishing industry faces because of rising costs, and we shall certainly take all these points into account.

§ Mr. Strang
Is the Secretary of State aware that at a time when the ban on herring fishing in the North Sea costs the industry thousands of pounds—albeit rightly—there is deep anxiety and anger at the evidence that French fishermen are landing herring caught in the North Sea, in French ports? Do the Government accept that that is happening, and, if so, will they do something about it?

§ Mr. Younger
We do all that we can to investigate every case that is reported to us. As I have said before at Question Time, prosecution has been brought on at least one occasion. The hon. Gentleman can rest assured that we shall investigate very seriously every example that we hear of.

§ Mr. Grimond
Can the Secretary of State tell us something about the limitations on mackerel fishing and whether they were agreed with the fishermen's associations?

§ Mr. Younger
The announcement made this week was a warning that we shall have to do something, because the catching capacity of the fleet is increasing while stocks are depleting. I assure the right hon. Gentleman that we shall not make any detailed arrangements without first consulting the fishing industry.

§ Mr. McQuarrie
I had intended to ask the question posed by the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond). [HON. MEMBERS: "Question."] My question would have been the same as that asked by the right hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Speaker
I am much obliged. There was a detailed debate on the subject last night, and it will come up again.