Common Fisheries Policy (Hansard, 6 March 1984)

§ Baroness Elliot of Harwood
My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question standing in my name on the Order Paper.

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, there are currently no major aspects of the common fisheries policy awaiting agreement in the Council of Ministers. The operation of the policy is, however, a continuing process and there will no doubt be further matters for decision at future meetings.

§ Baroness Elliot of Harwood
My Lords, I thank my noble friend very much for the Answer to my Question. It is encouraging that the extremely difficult problems of fishing have now reached the point at which they are being tackled very satisfactorily. It is also encouraging that our proportion of the fishing has gone up to 37 per cent. and I congratulate the Government very much on what has happened.

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend. In her supplementary question my noble friend mentioned a percentage. I think that the percentage is taken from the agreement that was struck when my right honourable friend the previous Minister of Agriculture was in office. My right honourable friend the Minister was, of course, negotiating on behalf of the United Kingdom at the recent meeting. I think it is fair to say that the effects of my noble friend's words have been continued in that latest agreement.

§ Lord John-Mackie
My Lords, at the time of the last Statement there was considerable questioning about the fact that all the inspectors had not been appointed and that the log books had not been printed. I wonder if the noble Lord can tell us whether this has now been rectified and whether the inspectors have all taken up their work. Is it not a fact that the Scottish fishermen are not too pleased with the closing of the mackerel box in the south-west of England, and that they have produced figures to suggest that this is not necessary? I wonder whether the noble Lord would like to comment on that. I think the argument is that hand-liners will be able to supply the demand, but I understand that they produce only about 3 per cent.

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, so far as enforcement is concerned, the United Kingdom was instrumental in the setting up of the inspectorate. It is fair to make that claim. My right honourable friend the Minister has been pressing for the early introduction of log books. Once these two key areas are fully operational—and I have to say to the noble Lord quite openly that they are not—we expect the standards of enforcement within the Community to be very greatly improved. May I say that the Government and the Opposition agree on this. Let us get on with it as quickly as possible. We shall continue to press for it. The closing of the south-west box is a conservation and management matter which we believe is desirable. The south-west box was closed at midnight on 4th March. I think I am right in saying that this is the latest date at which it has been closed during the last five years.

§ Lord Boothby
My Lords, does the noble Lord realise that the fisheries agreements which have been negotiated with the countries of Western Europe are the best that we have ever had and that this is primarily due to the diplomatic skill with which they were negotiated in Brussels by Mr. Peter Walker, as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with staunch support from the Secretary of State for Scotland? At every stage the fishermen and their leaders were consulted and agreement was reached. Does the noble Lord not agree that his example might be followed by the Government over the wider field of industry? It proves that consensus, when it can be arrived at, pays off far better than confrontation.

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, I do not in any way disagree with what the noble Lord said in the second part of his supplementary question. As to the first part, I know that Scottish Ministers, my right honourable friend and previous Ministers will be extremely grateful to the noble Lord, with his enormous experience of this subject, for the words he has spoken. But the point is not what redounds to political parties and politicians but what is beneficial for people's livelihoods. There is no question but that the agreement of last year and the new agreement which was hammered out only five or six weeks ago are for the future good of the fishing industry in this country.

§ Lord Cledwyn of Penrhos
My Lords, will the noble Lord agree that the setting up of an inspectorate has been the continuing objective of all political parties, and that we welcome what has been achieved? Given that it is very important for the British fishing industry 140 that the inspectorate should be at full strength as soon as possible, could the noble Lord indicate the obstacles which now stand in the way and also say when we may expect the inspectorate to be fully operational?

§ Lord Belstead
My Lords, most of the inspectors are now in post. It is hoped that log books and landing returns will come into force this summer. When pressed by my right honourable friend at the last Council of Fisheries Ministers on 31st January, the European Commission could not give an exact date for this, but I can say to the noble Lord, Lord Cledwyn, that the text and format for log books and landing returns have been completed and are now going out to tender for printing.