§ Mr. Osborneasked the Minister of Food whether the proposals for the solution of the Icelandic fishing dispute which were submitted to him 10 days ago by the hon. Member for Louth on behalf of British owners and skippers who are engaged in Icelandic fishing have yet been discussed by the Foreign Office with the Icelandic Government and with what results.
§ Mr. NuttingI have been asked to reply. As I informed the hon. and learned Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 12th November, the Icelandic Government have not so far been prepared to contemplate any changes in their fishery regulation limits, or to allow such changes to be discussed between representatives of the British and Icelandic fishing industries.
In these circumstances, I have as yet had no opportunity to put to the Icelandic Government my hon. Friend's proposals for certain modifications in the Icelandic fishery limits. I will, however, bear them in mind if a solution on these lines should later appear to be practicable.