HC Deb 03 February 1976 vol 904 cc514-5W
Mr. Frank R. White

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what quantities of fish have been landed during the present Icelandic dispute; and what quantities were landed during the similar period for each of the past five years.

Mr. Bishop

The latest month for which official statistics are available is November and since the present dispute did not begin until the 13th of that month it is not possible to produce the figures requested by my hon. Friend.

Mr. James Johnson

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give further details of the arrangements to compensate trawler officers and crews in Icelandic waters for loss of earnings over the period 24th January to 4th February inclusive.

Mr. Peart

The arrangements will apply to trawlers attempting to fish in the designated area off Iceland in the period from 24th January to 4th February inclusive. Trawler officers and crews will be able to claim special payments for each day—or pro rata for each part of a day—during the period in question when the operations of the Icelandic coastguard vessels prevent or have prevented them from fishing. The daily rates of payment will be £400 per day for trawlers from Grimsby, Hull, Fleetwood, Aberdeen and Granton, except for side trawlers from Fleetwood which will qualify for £350 per day. The payments will be apportioned between the various grades employed on fishing vessels under the terms contained in their contracts of employment.

Vessel owners will be asked as a matter of urgency to submit bulk claims on behalf of the skippers and crewmen involved.

I shall in due course be submitting a Supplementary Estimate for 1975–76 and in the meantime I shall have recourse to the Contingencies Fund. Authority for the payments will rely upon the Estimate itself and the confirming Appropriation Act.