HL Deb 09 May 1973 vol 342 cc405-7
LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government to what extent Iceland trawlers call at British ports; and, if they do, what amount of fish do they market in the United Kingdom.

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, there were 65 landings of fish by Icelandic fishing vessels at British ports in 1972. The total quantity of fish involved was 6,200 tons with a value of £0.9 million. The bulk of this was landed at Humber ports in the first half of that year.

LORD FRASER OF LONSDALE

My Lords, if difficulties continue and become exacerbated, would it he worth our while inquiring whether we could get an equivalent amount of cod fish, or other fish, from friendly places like Newfoundland and the Eastern Canada coast and Greenland?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, there are in fact a number of other countries who supply us with fish apart from that caught by our own trawlers, and I assure my noble friend that the fresh fish sold by Iceland in this country amounts to only about 1 per cent. of the total supply.

LORD MAYBRAY-KING

My Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the whole House is behind the noble Baroness Lady Tweedsmuir of Belhelvie, in the stand she took in Iceland last week for the legitimate fishing rights of the British people; but that those of us who have friends in Iceland and who believe in Icelandic-British friendship would urge the Icelandic Government to recognise the claims of the British people?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I am very grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Maybray-King, for that remark with which I entirely agree. We are anxious to see this dispute solved by means of negotiation and not by any means of retaliation.

LORD BLYTON

My Lords, does the Minister not agree that in this period of uncertainty, when our trawls are being cut and our seamen are in danger, there must come a time when we should stand on our own feet and say: "No further; we have gone far enough."?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I cannot say for how long this dispute will go on, but that is a subject rather wider than the original Question on the Order Paper, which refers to the landing of fish from Iceland.

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, since we did not have the opportunity of hearing the Statement on Monday and were therefore unable to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Tweedsmuir, would the noble Earl convey to her the best wishes of the House and the admiration that we all feel for her?

EARL FERRERS

My Lords, I will certainly convey that to my noble friend, if she needs any conveyance in that respect.