HL Deb 25 June 1979 vol 400 cc1213-5

2.45 p.m.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

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 whether any steps are being taken to implement any of the recommendations made by the NFU in their report of last July to redress some of the fish farmers' disabilities.

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, a series of consultation meetings with appropriate bodies will begin next month.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that reply I should like to ask him a supplementary question. I have seen that there is to be a survey of likely nuclear stations around the coasts of our islands. When that survey is made, if the benefit to fish farming is taken into account in connection with the erection of nuclear reactors, which produce warm water, would it not be most beneficial to the fishing industry?

Lords SANDYS

My Lords, while recognising the benefit which flows from existing power stations which are sited around our coasts, to the fish farming industry, and indeed to fish culture generally, at the present moment it is not the practice to include this as part of the scheme of design. I shall be only too happy to pass on to my right honourable friend the suggestion made by the noble Baroness.

Lord STRABOLGI

My Lords, may I ask the Government whether they are to continue the R & D expenditure amounting to about £1 million, given by the previous Government, or will that be a victim of the economy axe?

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, I regret that at the present moment I am unable to confirm or deny what the noble Lord has said.

Lord SKELMERSDALE

My Lords, is my noble friend aware that very small changes, usually downwards, in the temperature of the sea cause fish to desert their traditional feeding grounds, and that by extension only very small changes upwards are needed to re-establish, for example, the sardine fishing industry off the coast of Cornwall? Will he further agree that power stations, nuclear or otherwise, could well be sited with such considerations in view?

Lord SANDYS

My Lords, while wholly agreeing about the historical movement of fish mentioned by my noble friend Lord Skelmersdale, I feel that this is a matter worthy of scientific investigation and when making recommendations I will emphasise it to my right honourable friend.

Baroness EMMET of AMBERLEY

My Lords may I ask the noble Lord to suggest to the Ministry that they make inquiries as to what is going on in this respect in Germany, where they have gone a long way towards using their nuclear power stations to help fish farmers?

Lord SANDYS

I will bear that in mind, my Lords.