White Fish Authority

HC Deb 07 May 1980 vol 984 cc274-5

19. Mr. Pollock

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has any plans to meet the chairman of the White Fish Authority.

Mr. Younger

I have no immediate plans to meet the authority's chairman, but would hope to have an opportunity of doing so on an appropriate occasion.

Mr. Pollock

When my right hon. Friend has such a meeting, will he discuss with the chairman the alarming evidence of flagrant breaches in Common Market regulations concerning the catches of mackerel and herring? Is he in a position to give any assurance that the Government intend firmly to back the interests of Scottish fishermen against lawbreakers?

Mr. Younger

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that question. I discuss this subject whenever I meet anyone in the fishing industry. As I have said, we take care that every piece of evidence given to us is brought together and forwarded to the Commission. The Commission then knows what is going on. We have sent a copy of the film, shown in a recent " World in Action " programme, to the Commission, so that it can see that as well. We shall do all that we can to support the Scottish fishing industry.

Mr. Donald Stewart

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that lobster fishermen in Uist are in a serious position? What arrangement can be made for fishermen outside a producer organisation to receive finance as a result of the Government's recent award to the fishing industry? Is there any possibility that such fishermen might receive assistance?

Mr. Younger

As the right hon. Gentleman knows, aid is channelled through the producer organisations. Where such a producer organisation exists, discussions should take place through it.

Mr. George Robertson

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the recent " World in Action " programme was not the first source of an allegation against foreign fishermen for breach of EEC regulations? When may the fishing industry expect to see action being taken against such flagrant breaches? Is it not time that action was taken, rather than hearing about talks, or television programmes?

Mr. Younger

I appreciate the hon. Gentleman's concern in this matter. He may be interested to know that during 1979, of 18 foreign skippers prosecuted for illegal fishing in United Kingdom waters, 17 were convicted. So far this year, eight foreign skippers have been prosecuted and all have been found guilty. Therefore, we are taking action wherever we can.