HL Deb 05 July 1978 vol 394 cc981-3

2.46 p.m.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

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 what are their plans on the nationalisation of parts of the sea fishing industry.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, Her Majesty's Government have no such plans.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord for that complete and outstanding declaration, which will give the fishing community, particularly in my part of the world, very much pleasure. I thank the noble Lord for the Answer.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, the main problems of the fishing industry, of course, stem mainly from the unsatisfactory Common Fisheries policy, and not from threats of nationalisation.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, is this not the first time that a Minister has answered a question when none has been asked?

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, would the Minister not agree that since Mr. Hugh Gaitskell fought so very gallantly in the mid-fifties to eradicate further nationalisation from the Labour Party's programme there has been steady and continued nationalisation? Can we be assured that when the Labour Party Conference has, with a huge majority, adopted this programme—with 5.9 million voting for it and 0.12 million against it—it will not be in the Manifesto? Can we be assured of that right now?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I must ask the noble Lord to wait for the next Manifesto and the policy of the next Labour Government.

Lord BLYTON

My Lords, could my noble friend assure me that he will not allow the Tory Party to dictate the issues on which we shall fight the next Election?

Lord ORR-EWING

My Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind that 90 per cent. of the electorate are against it, so the sooner we know about it the greater the chance he has of selling this policy to the country? He has a lot of way to make up, since 90 per cent. are now opposed to it.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I do not think that is anything very much to do with the original Question.

Lord LEATHERLAND

My Lords, is my noble friend aware of the fact that, with the fishing industry under private enterprise, it is very difficult indeed to buy kippers, and that when you do buy them they are nearly ten shillings a pair? While I do not want to see the fishing industry nationalised, is it not about time something was done about this?

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, my right honourable friend the Minister of Agriculture continues to negotiate at Brussels to get the best arrangements that we can, but we are labouring under the Treaty of Accession. I do not want to make a Party point here, but the Conservatives did their best but they did not do well enough.

Lord HAILSHAM of SAINT MARYLEBONE

My Lords, is it not possible that the shortage of kippers is due to the shortage of herrings? Will the noble Lord perhaps explain to his noble friend that kippers are made out of herrings, which are in short supply?

Lord STRABOLGI

Yes, my Lords; there is a ban on herring fishing at present.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNESIDE

My Lords, will the noble Lord bear in mind, we having had an exchange, that I am interpreting that to mean that in the Manifesto—when it does come, if it ever comes—there will be no plans for nationalising the fishing industry? That is what (I think he will agree with me) I have interpreted from the very straight answer that he gave me. I shall always watch what he really is doing.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, I said no such thing.