HC Deb 17 June 1977 vol 933 cc312-3W
Mr. Jim Spicer

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to re-establish a support service for the United Kingdom deep water fishing fleet.

Mr. Bishop

For several years up to 1st December 1976, my Department provided ships off Iceland to supervise United Kingdom fishing there, most recently in accordance with the 1976 Oslo agreement. Pending further negotiations with Iceland, it is not possible to forecast whether United Kingdom fishing will be resumed there under arrangements which require the presence of United Kingdom control ships. The Department of Trade vessel "Miranda", which was in previous years stationed off Iceland, has during the 1976–77 winter provided weather reports and medical and repair facilities for United Kingdom vessels fishing off Greenland. The deployment of the "Miranda" during the winter of 1977–78 has not yet been decided.

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