HC Deb 25 June 1981 vol 7 cc416-7

Lords amendment No. 21 in page 39, line 30, leave out ("and").

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

Mr. Deputy Speaker

With this we may take Lords amendment No. 22.

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

The amendment merely clarifies the powers of the Sea Fish Industry Authority in relation to the collection of the levy in one area. The provision was not clear in the original Bill and the lack of clarity came to light in subsequent stages.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords amendment No. 22 agreed to.

Lords amendment: No. 23, in page 40, line 13, at beginning insert As from the transfer date".

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I beg to move, That this House doth agree with the Lords in the said amendment.

This is a formal amendment that provides a date on which the new authority takes over two functions, those of the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board.

Mr. McQuarrie

The amendment refers to page 40, line 13 of the main Bill and seeks to insert As from the transfer date". That is a reasonable term to add. It does nothing more than ensure that such statutory functions of the White Fish Authority and the Herring Industry Board are automatically transferred to the Sea Fish Industry Authority on the date when the two existing bodies cease to exist. As the industry has waited so many years for the Bill and the establishment of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, how much time will be required after Royal Assent to set up the new authority? The sooner that the Sea Fish Industry Authority is brought into being the better for the fishing industry generally. That is important in view of the wide-ranging powers that the new authority will have over the industry. How long will it take for the new authority to come into effect?

Mr. Buchanan-Smith

I am sure that my hon. Friend will acknowledge that we have not wasted time in introducing the Bill. The proposal to establish a new authority has been outstanding for a considerable period. We have introduced the Bill in the second Session of this Parliament. I pay tribute to hon. Members on both sides of the House for the way in which they have facilitated the Bill. The transfer date itself does not tell us when the new authority is to be set up. That will be done by means of a commencement order. No date has been allocated but we wish to make the transfer as soon as the necessary administrative procedures have been completed. I cannot give a specific date, but I hope that the new body will be functioning later this year.

Mr. Strang

We are happy about the enactment of this legislation. We welcome the constructive manner in which the Minister of State has addressed himself to various issues, not least the way in which he brought forward the appropriate amendments on klondiking. We believe that the Bill represents a significant potential advance for the industry. We hope that full advantage will be taken of it.

Question put and agreed to.

Lords amendments Nos. 24 and 25 agreed to.