§ 2. Mr. Tony Lloydasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has had regarding the improvement of fishing opportunities for British fishermen around the Falklands.
§ Mr. GummerI have had occasion to discuss with a number of British companies their plans for fishing around the Falklands. Through joint venture arrangements, British companies have interests in more than 70 vessels licensed for the 1987 squid fishery, in addition to having taken up three licences for British flag vessels. That is a considerable improvement upon last year.
§ Mr. LloydIs the Minister aware of reports in the media that British fishing is being disserviced by this licensing system? The Spanish have already been granted 36 licences, compared with the three that the hon. Gentleman mentioned for British ships. What steps will he take to ensure that the British deep water fleet will have an opportuniy to fish in these valuable waters?
§ Mr. GummerI have fought continuously to encourage the British fleet to seize any opportunity available to it and I shall continue to do so. It is my intention that the British fishing fleet should take its proper part in the world fisheries, and I shall continue to press that.
§ Mr. John TownendHas my right hon. Friend considered the suggestion by a leading member of the deep sea industry, who lives in my constituency, that the Government should negotiate with foreign countries to allow their fishing boats to have fishing opportunities in the Falklands waters in return for our industry being given fishing opportunities in their waters?
§ Mr. GummerI have seen that report. No doubt it will be considered not only by me but by my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign Secretary, within whose ministerial responsibilities a good deal of this matter falls.
§ Dr. GodmanOn the assumption that such fishing activities in Falkland waters will be undertaken by, say, vessels of more than 50m overall length, will such trawlers be allowed to fish in United Kingdom waters when not fishing in the south Atlantic?
§ Mr. GummerThe hon. Gentleman must accept that the system that we use to restrain the ability to fish in order to be in line with the availability of fish in British waters and in European waters as a whole could not be destroyed by the situation in the Falklands. We would have to keep the rules as we have them. One could not give special permission or special opportunities to those who happen to fish in the Falklands waters.[Interruption.] Those Opposition Members who know nothing about the fisheries regime — such as the hon. Member for Workington (Mr. Campbell-Savours) who, as usual, shouts from a seated position—will know that the hon. Gentleman who asked the question knows what the answer means.
§ Mr. Bowen WellsHow much revenue will the Falkland Islands Government gain from the licences issued so far?
§ Mr. GummerI cannot tell my hon. Friend the answer to that question. It is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary.
§ Mr. Randallwill the Minister encourage the Falkland Islands Government to give far greater priority to issuing licences to British companies involved in joint ventures? At the moment it is cheaper for countries such as Poland to get a licence, which in fact is a foreign flag licence rather than a joint venture licence.
§ Mr. GummerI am satisfied that British interests were more than fairly accommodated in the allocation of licences, but I will look at the point that the hon. Gentleman has raised.