HC Deb 05 February 1997 vol 289 c625W
31. Mr. Macdonald

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the prospects for the fishing industry in Scotland. [12913]

Mr. Raymond S. Robertson

The Government are committed to safeguarding the interests of the Scottish fishing industry. That is why we continue to press for a solution to the problem of "quota hopping" at the intergovernmental conference and that is why we argued successfully for more realistic quotas at the December Fisheries Council. The industry's own confidence is evident from the fact that more than 20 new boats, worth some £100 million, are currently on order from Scottish fishermen, with many of the orders placed in Scottish shipyards.