§ Mr. Mylesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet able to report the findings of the team appointed to investigate allegations of unfair or illegal imports of fish into the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Peter WalkerEarlier in the year allegations were made of unfair and illegal imports. After discussion with representatives of the catching sector Fisheries Ministers set up a team of industry representatives and Government officials to examine all these allegations so as to establish the facts.
At a meeting held this morning the Minister of State in my Department, my hon. Friend the Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and the Minister of State, Scottish Office, Lord Mansfield, and I 365W considered the team's report with the industry organisations concerned. The team's report was accepted as fully meeting its remit.
The team's most important conclusion was that the major factor affecting the United Kingdom market over the last year or so has probably been the strength of sterling in an area where, unlike agriculture, the monetary compensatory amounts mechanism does not apply. This has attracted imports at prices which are relatively low when converted into sterling, a development which was exacerbated by the weakening of prices on the international market for fish. These factors, coupled with the significant cost increases with which fisherman have had to contend, may have led people to suspect unfair or illegal practices by exporters to the United Kingdom even though currency movements by themselves can account for low priced imports.
Against this background we have agreed with the industry organisations concerned that of the many detailed allegations the team examined only two were proved and call for action.
First, it was established that some container lorries bringing fish into the United Kingdom from other member States are overloaded. This is both illegal and gives some economic advantage to those involved. We have agreed with the Secretary of State for Transport that special attention should be given to the weight testing of lorries, British or foreign, leaving our ports. This is being done.
Secondly, it was confirmed that significant imports from third countries have been coming in at below the reference price. We have already drawn the attention of the Commission to this and are pressing it to act to stop this trade.
We believe that the work of the team has been valuable in establishing the facts and very much welcome the cooperation we have had from the fishermen's organisations which were directly involved both in preparing the team's report and in considering the implications of its findings. Where it was agreed action should be taken we have acted. We do not, however, regard this as the end of the story. Departments will continue, as they have in the past, to monitor the trading situation to ensure that as new problems emerge they are fully investigated and, where appropriate, action is taken.
Copies of the report setting out the team's findings will be placed in the Library as soon as possible.