Fishing (Mesh Sizes) (Hansard, 21 June 1979)

§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will delay the implementation of the proposed alteration in fishing net mesh sizes due on 1 July until adequate supplies of nets to the new mesh sizes are available for all fishermen to whom the restriction applies.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
No. I have already deferred the introduction of these measures by one month to 1 July, in part to help fishermen adapt to the new mesh sizes. A further delay would be detrimental to the conservation of fish stocks and could not be considered.

§ Mr. Maxwell-Hyslop
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from what representative bodies and persons his Department secured unanimous agreement to his proposals to alter

VALUE OF UNITED KINGDOM FOOD, FEED AND DRINK IMPORTS AND EXPORTS

(£ million)

1975 1976 1977 1978

Imports (cif)

Live animals … … … … … 108 84 98 137

Meat and meat preparations … … … 702 838 974 1,138

Dairy products and eggs … … … 523 505 460 510

Fish and fish preparations … … … 136 191 210 261

Cereals and cereal preparations … … 612 747 820 676

Fruit and vegetables … … … … 691 942 1,108 1,046

Sugar and sugar preparations … … 632 429 428 447

Coffee, tea and cocoa … … … … 322 493 919 758

Animal feedingstuffs … … … … 110 173 210 212

^*Miscellaneous food and agricultural preparations … … … … … 422 562 799 749

Food and feed … … … … 4,258 4,964 6,026 5,934

Drink … … … … … … 222 251 306 360

Total imports, food, feed and drink 4,480 5,215 6,332 6,294

Exports (fob)

Food and feed … … … … … 929 1,096 1,510 1,920

Drink … … … … … … 437 524 629 805

Total exports, food, feed and drink 1,366 1,620 2,139 2,725

Net deficit-

Surplus+

Food and feed … … … … … -3,329 -3,868 -4,516 -4,014

Drink … … … … … … +215 +273 +323 +445

Total net deficit -3,114 -3,595 -4,193 -3,569

^*The coverage of this heading has been extended to include vegetable oils and oilseeds and also other food and feed items such as edible starches, dyes, essences and albumens, so bringing it into line with the figures in table II.1 of the White Paper "Farming and the Nation" (Cmnd 7458).

646W
fishing net mesh sizes with effect from 1 July.

§ Mr. Peter Walker
I met representatives of all sections of the fishing industry on 24 May when there was general agreement with my decision to introduce the national measures on 1 July. The following organisations were represented at the meeting:

British Fishing Federation.

Scottish Fishing Federation.

National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations.

Fisheries Organisation Society.

VALUE OF UNITED KINGDOM FOOD, FEED AND DRINK IMPORTS AND EXPORTS
	(£ million)
	1975	1976	1977	1978
Imports (cif)
Live animals	…	…	…	…	…	108	84	98	137
Meat and meat preparations	…	…	…	702	838	974	1,138
Dairy products and eggs	…	…	…	523	505	460	510
Fish and fish preparations	…	…	…	136	191	210	261
Cereals and cereal preparations	…	…	612	747	820	676
Fruit and vegetables	…	…	…	…	691	942	1,108	1,046
Sugar and sugar preparations	…	…	632	429	428	447
Coffee, tea and cocoa	…	…	…	…	322	493	919	758
Animal feedingstuffs	…	…	…	…	110	173	210	212
^*Miscellaneous food and agricultural preparations	…	…	…	…	…	422	562	799	749
Food and feed	…	…	…	…	4,258	4,964	6,026	5,934
Drink	…	…	…	…	…	…	222	251	306	360
Total imports, food, feed and drink	4,480	5,215	6,332	6,294
Exports (fob)
Food and feed	…	…	…	…	…	929	1,096	1,510	1,920
Drink	…	…	…	…	…	…	437	524	629	805
Total exports, food, feed and drink	1,366	1,620	2,139	2,725
Net deficit-
Surplus+
Food and feed	…	…	…	…	…	-3,329	-3,868	-4,516	-4,014
Drink	…	…	…	…	…	…	+215	+273	+323	+445
Total net deficit	-3,114	-3,595	-4,193	-3,569
^*The coverage of this heading has been extended to include vegetable oils and oilseeds and also other food and feed items such as edible starches, dyes, essences and albumens, so bringing it into line with the figures in table II.1 of the White Paper "Farming and the Nation" (Cmnd 7458).