§ 15. Mr. MaclennanTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next proposes to meet representatives of the Scottish fishing industry to discuss decommissioning of fishing vessels and future licensing arrangements of the industry.
§ Mr. RifkindMy noble Friend the Minister of State and I meet representatives of the Scottish fishing industry on a regular basis. Our most recent meeting was on Monday 13 November when decommissioning and licensing were among the issues discussed.
§ 25. Mrs. Ray MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the latest progress towards long-term restructuring of the Scottish fishing industry.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend and my noble Friend the Minister of State are urgently considering proposals to help align fishing opportunity and catching capacity. These raise many difficult issues, but we hope to announce our decisions very soon.
§ 22. Mr. KennedyTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will assess the need for a decommissioning scheme in the Scottish fishing industry in the light of current total allowable catches; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. LangThe Government are fully aware of both the present scarcity of white fish and the excess capacity which exists in the United Kingdom fishing fleet and are considering how fishing opportunity can be better aligned to catching capacity. This consideration includes the option of a decommissioning scheme. Before introducing any such scheme we would need to be satisfied that it addressed the problem appropriately and that it represented good value for taxpayers' money.
§ 20. Mr. KirkwoodTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an official visit to Eyemouth to discuss the current state of the fishing industry.
§ Mr. LangMy right hon. and learned Friend is considering a visit to Berwickshire when these matters might be discussed.