HC Deb 04 February 1988 vol 126 c731W
55. Mrs. Ray Michie

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present state of the fishing industry.

Mr. Gummer

Thanks to this Government's policies, including t he negotiation in January 1983 of a satisfactory common fisheries policy, the United Kingdom fishing industry is in better heart than for many years. Although figures for 1987 are not yet complete, it is clear that landings were up over the previous year both in volume and in value terms, implying a significant increase in real earnings.