HC Deb 01 August 1958 vol 592 cc218-9W
Mr. Hector Hughes

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that seven European nations, including Great Britain, in conference recently at The Hague condemned Iceland's claim to extend her territorial sea fishing limits to 12 miles, and that sea fishing is Iceland's main industry, if he will take steps to invite those seven nations within the framework of the United Nations or otherwise, to unite in assisting the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation in its study of methods of diversifying Iceland's industries so as to save her from being dependent almost solely on the fishing industry.

Mr. Ian Harvey

The Organisation for European Economic Co-operation is at present engaged in a study of the Icelandic economy as part of a project designed to facilitate the association of the less developed countries in Europe with the proposed Free Trade Area. This project has the support of all the members of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation. There is no need for separate support on the part of those countries whose fishing industries recently sent representatives to a nongovernmental meeting at The Hague.