HC Deb 04 December 1980 vol 995 cc421-2
12. Mr. Henderson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the progress of negotiations towards a common fisheries policy for the European Economic Community.

15. Mr. Wall

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on developments in a common fisheries policy in the European Economic Community.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The Council of Fisheries Ministers last met on 17 and 18 November, when progress was made on quotas. The Council was suspended to enable further bilateral consultations to take place and is expected to resume shortly.

Mr. Henderson

Will my hon. Friend accept thanks for the way in which he and his right hon. Friends have conducted these negotiations so far and, in particular, for the way in which he has kept in close contact with the industry? In this crucial stage of the negotiations, will he maintain that contact with the industry and not overlook the important questions of policing and, possibly, the concerns about flags of convenience which may arise out of a common fisheries policy?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

It is certainly the Government's intention that, throughout these very delicate and important negotiations, we shall keep in the closest possible touch with the industry. We meet representatives of the industry before every Fisheries Council. We have representatives of the industry in attendance at the Fisheries Councils, and we consult them during the negotiations. I appreciate the help and support given by the industry in relation to this matter. This is something which we shall certainly continue and we shall work very closely with the industry.

Mr. Wall

May I congratulate my hon. Friend an already obtaining an increase in the British quota? Will he continue to make it clear that, as the majority of EEC fish are in British waters and as, unlike the Danes, we do not go in for industrial fishing, we shall require an even greater quota than that which is at present suggested?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I thank my hon. Friend for what he has said. I am sure that he is aware that all those items in the statement from the Foreign Ministers' Council in May underline the areas — such as losses in third country waters, industrial by-catches and other areas—which are of vital importance for the British fishing industry. It is on the basis of those factors that the quotas have to be calculated. Both the Commission and our fellow Ministers will do their best to make sure that we live up to what has been laid down.

Mr. Robert Hughes

Does the Minister agree that the difference between what has been offered by the Commission and what the fishing industry needs to survive is so great that an agreement seems very unlikely next time the Ministers meet?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The hon. Gentleman should be clear about one thing. Knowing his interest in this matter, I am sure he is not trying to muddle things. On quotas, we have as yet no formal proposals from the Commission. What we have are figures which illustrate how these different methods might be used to calculate those quotas. The figures that have been produced, which are illustrative of these methods, we regard as totally unsatisfactory. They will not do. We are currently negotiating to make sure that these methods apply in the way in which they were intended to apply.