Fishing Industry (Hansard, 11 February 1981)

§ 12. Mr. Sproat
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest situation in the fishing industry.

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
The Government recognise that the industry continues to face considerable difficulties. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend on 5 February, we have brought forward the review of the industry's economic position which was due when the present aid scheme ends in March.
As regards the fisheries negotiations, as hon. Members now know, the negotiations which began in Brussels on Monday continue today, and I assure the House that my right hon. Friends will report the outcome of these latest negotiations as soon as this is possible.
I am also surprised that Opposition Members are surprised at the whereabouts of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State today.

§ Mr. Sproat
Does my hon. Friend accept that all reasonable people fully understand the importance of my right hon. Friend being in Brussels today to fight for Scottish and British fishermen? Does he further accept that all sides of the House will fully support the strong line that my right hon. Friends are taking in rejecting out of hand the French proposals and the Commission's so-called compromise proposals? Can he say how long the current talks are likely to continue?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
I thank my hon. Friend for drawing to the attention of the House what reasonable people feel on this matter. At the present moment the Council of Fisheries Ministers is still in session. The Ministers will be going out to meet their own delegations, the council will meet again later this afternoon, and there will possibly be a statement tomorrow. I assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friends are fighting extremely hard on behalf of the British fishing industry.

§ Mr. Grimond
Have the Government received any information from the Dutch Government in response to the inquiries that we understand they are making there about the allegations that the Dutch are dumping fish in this country, contrary to Common Market regulations?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
As the right hon. Gentleman knows, I am, of course, an expert on the subject of fishing. These negotiations are still continuing, but until we settle the 856 CFP the only quotas are those being applied voluntarily by each country. There is, therefore, no action that the Government can take in this respect at this moment.

§ Mr. Millan
Will the Minister take note that the reports coming out of Brussels so far are in no way reassuring about the nature of the settlement that the Government may be contemplating? Is he aware that the Opposition expect the Government to keep to the pledges that they have repeatedly made in the House and that, if they do not, any agreement reached will be completely unsatisfactory and, I believe, will be rejected not only by the fishing industry but by the House?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
I do not think that there is any evidence at all to suggest that the feelings coming out of Brussels at the moment are not reassuring. The right hon. Gentleman knows the position as well as any of us. He knows the political difficulty that we have with the French Government and their elections, but I assure him that the Government will not sell Britain's fishermen down the river—if I may put it in that way.

§ Mr. McQuarrie
I am sure that the Minister, who is answering for my right hon. Friend today, will be aware that the real problem in the fishing industry, which has arisen in Fraserburgh and Peterhead in my constituency, concerns the import of certain fish as against the prices that are being obtained on the quay. Will he take active steps to ensure that the only fish imported is that which is required for the processing factories and ensure that any other white fish imports are banned completely?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
I accept what my hon. Friend says, up to a point. Investigations are taking place on this matter at this moment. With due respect, however, I do not think that the correct response is for our fishermen not to go out and fish.

§ Mr. Donald Stewart
Is the Minister aware that there is great anger and concern in the fishing industry over the reported remarks of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to the effect that he was seeking to minimise the demands of the French within the 12-mile limit? Is he aware that if that was conceded in any way, apart from the other aspects of the settlement, it would be regarded by the fishermen—and their view would be shared by me—as sheer treachery?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
Some of those views would be shared by hon. Members on both sides of the House, but it would be wrong to anticipate negotiations that are going on at the moment and about which my right hon. Friends will probably be speaking to the House tomorrow.

§ Mr. Strang
Is the Minister aware of the enormity of the disaster facing the Scottish inshore fishing industry? Will he make it clear to his right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that if the talks break down we shall expect, not just a statement outlining the talks, but a plan of national measures to save our own industry?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
I am surprised that the hon. Member should make such a statement. The hon. Gentleman knows full well that as an earnest of the Government's intent towards the fishing industry in the present financial year we have given £17 million to the industry, over half of which went to Scotland.

§ Mr. Myles
Despite some of the comments made by Opposition Members, I am sure that the whole House will wish my right hon. Friends success in the present talks in Brussels. Will my hon. Friend ensure that if, by chance, the talks break down, unilateral conservation measures will be undertaken to make certain that there are fish stocks to be fished in the future?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
Again, it is not for me to anticipate the decisions of my right hon. Friends in Brussels. May I say, however, that we are very fortunate, particularly in Scotland, in having two such competent Ministers arguing Britain's case. As regards the question of a breakdown in the talks, may I say that there will either be a breakdown or a satisfactory solution for Britain.

§ Mr. John Home Robertson
The Minister seems to be implying that his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is not competent, but perhaps we should not go into that. Will he comment on the allegations that fish which has been officially withdrawn from the market in the Netherlands is appearing on the market in the United Kingdom at throw-away prices? How does he propose to stop such illegal trade?

§ Mr. Fairgrieve
As I have said, and as the hon. Member knows full well, the whole position is currently being investigated.