HL Deb 11 January 1996 vol 568 cc257-8

3.22 p.m.

Lord Campbell of Croy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they consider that any action is necessary upon the finding, in recent research sponsored by the European Commission, that fish fingers sold in the United Kingdom have less fish content than those in most west European countries.

Lord Lucas: My Lords, we believe that labelling of fish fingers could usefully be more informative. We support the European Community proposal to require quantitative ingredient labelling which is very close to final adoption. When implemented this will require products such as fish fingers and fish cakes to declare the amount of fish that they contain.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, I am grateful to my noble friend for his reply and in particular for the information that in future the fish content of fish fingers will have to be stated on labels, as with meat products at present. However, is this not a matter to be left to the tastes and preferences of the consumers? In the present circumstances of serious over-fishing of Europe's seas and severe pressure on fish stocks, may the frugal apportioning of fish to fish fingers also prove to be a sensible conservation measure?

Lord Lucas

My Lords, I have to agree with my noble friend. Indeed, fish-free fish fingers would be very popular with my family.

Lord Carter

My Lords, does the Minister agree that the absurdity of the common fisheries policy and the lack of consumer protection in this country are well illustrated by this situation? While the common fisheries policy results in tens of thousands of tonnes of fish being thrown back into the sea, the Government have allowed a situation to develop where the British fish finger is singularly lacking in fish.

Lord Lucas

My Lords, I do not see the sense in the noble Lord's question.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, having protected the British sausage a few years ago—a subject which I raised in this House at the time—will the Government now prepare to defend the British fish finger? Was the expenditure by the Commission on the research necessary?

Lord Lucas

My Lords, I cannot comment on whether the research was necessary. I do not know how much it cost and I do not know of any particular use for it. With regard to the British fish finger, we know of no Commission proposal to affect it or abolish it, and were there any such proposal we would certainly raise two fish fingers to it.