Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy 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 whether their proposed negotiations with Norway on fisheries have been postponed and what considerations apply to the timing.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, Her Majesty's Government have not proposed any such negotiations. Norway is, like us, working for general acceptance of 200 mile fisheries limits at the United Nations Law of the Sea Conference, and has begun a round of consultations with other States about the implications of a Norwegian 200 mile zone. Following informal talks last October, my right honourable friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Mr. Ennals, and Mr. Evensen, the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, agreed that the two countries should keep in touch on fisheries matters. This is at present being done through diplomatic channels.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for his Answer. Is he aware that it was reported in the Press last week that negotiations with the Norwegians on the subject had been postponed? Such negotiations are inevitably connected with the Icelandic situation. Without disturbing the delicate stage which has now been reached, can the noble Lord give to the House the latest information about the Government's reaction to the message from our trawlers? Apparently they were asking for a reply by mid-day today.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am sorry to say that I am not in a position to add to the Statement made yesterday in another place by my right honourable friend the Prime Minister.
Lord LOVATTMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that there is an increasing scarcity of herring in the North Sea, and that they have long since been fished out of the Baltic? Will the noble Lord further agree that it is becoming increasingly 1108 important to conserve our fish stocks rather than to rob the ocean?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, certainly. This is fairly generally agreed, but the issue for all fishery nations is not only to control the catch but to conserve fish stocks.
§ Lord PANNELLMy Lords, as soon as is convenient after the heat has died down over the present Icelandic dispute, will the noble Lord consider laying before Parliament a White Paper, or some other kind of document, that will set out the future consequences of fishing, bearing in mind that we are in the presence of something like an international tragedy in which everything cannot be said on one side or the other?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I think that the whole House will agree with my noble friend that this is a matter of far-reaching importance, not only to coastal States but to others as well. I take particular note of what he has said. I am quite sure that my right honourable friends have this under advisement and will be glad of the reinforcement which my noble friend's interjection has given to this very important issue.
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDEMy Lords, does the noble Lord know whether the Royal Navy have sent out their ships for protection, as requested by our fishing fleet? If I understand the position correctly, the fleet said that the Royal Navy must be sent out, otherwise they would stop fishing. It would be of great interest to the House to know what has or has not happened.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I am afraid I am in no position to assist the House on this matter at this stage.
§ Lord LEATHERLANDMy Lords, in view of the great difficulties which are likely to confront not only this country but many others regarding fish supplies in the coming years, can the Government take specific action to encourage fish farming on a large scale, so that instead of being a mere hobby as it is at the moment it could become a great British industry?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, this is a worth-while suggestion 1109 which is the subject of increasing examination by experts and, indeed, by commercial interests. It is well worth considering whether or not fish farming could be more extensively pursued than it is at present on the high seas as well as in inland waters.
Lord PAGET of NORTHAMPTONMy Lords, while recognising the modern principle that it is indecent to resist blackmail so long as the blackmailer is small, can one still ask whether we have Norwegian approval for the submissions which which we are making in Iceland?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do not think that this is a question of blackmail.
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, I do not think that this is a question of blackmail. It is a question of careful consultation between friends and allies.
Lord CAMPBELL of CROYMy Lords, when the negotiations with Iceland are concluded, we hope satisfactorily, will the Government consider exploring with the Norwegians and other countries concerned arrangements for fisheries in the North-East Atlantic area, whether or not agreement on a 200 miles economic zone is reached at the Law of the Sea Conference which is about to take place?
§ Lord GORONWY-ROBERTSMy Lords, we shall have to consider that eventuality. We hope that the movement towards general agreement, which is now descernible in the various stages of the United Nations' Law of the Sea Conference, will prove that international agreement is possible. If that is not so, however, the situation which the noble Lord has mentioned will clearly call for British Government appraisal, and appraisal by other Governments for the same purpose.