§ 2.45 p.m.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy 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 when the Working Party studying fish farming problems will report.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, following discussions between the Fisheries Departments and representatives of fish farming interests in Great Britain, the National Farmers' Union has advised the Ministry that the industry is reviewing the specific problems with which it has been concerned and hopes to submit detailed proposals for legislative and administrative changes by the middle of the year.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords while thanking the noble Lord for that encouraging reply, may I ask whether he is aware that those of us interested in this question are very pleased to see that the Ministry of Agriculture has put fish prominently on the front page of their latest report? May I ask whether the complete review of fish farming research which is referred to in this report has yet started?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, there was a report of the Fish Farming Committee of the Fisheries Research and Development Board set up to go into the question of the £1 million research and development which the Government are giving and to see whether it was justified. They concluded that it was.
§ Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEYMy Lords, can the noble Lord say whether a copy of the report is available in the Printed Paper Office?
§ Lord STRABOLGII think it could be; certainly, my Lords.
§ Lord BALERNOMy Lords, may I ask the Government whether they are doing anything at all regarding the diseases of fish research work which is presently being conducted at Stirling University, the funds for which are running out? This is a vitally important subject.
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, I will certainly take note of what the noble Lord has said. We have of course worked closely with the research unit at Stirling University. This is one of the matters being discussed by the fish farmers at present.
§ Lord RAGLANMy Lords, in my noble friend's original Answer, he referred to certain fishing farming interests as being about to put forward legislative proposals in respect of fish farming. Could he tell the House which are these particular interests?
§ Lord STRABOLGIMy Lords, they are the representatives of the fish farmers—there are various associations—in combiation with the National Farmers' Union. The NFU is co-ordinating the talks.