§ 43. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the increase in the Russian and Japanese giant freezer trawlers which compete with British trawler fleets in British traditional fishing grounds, and of the danger of inroads by them into the supply of fish to British consumers; and if he will state his plans to protect the British fishing industry and British consumers.
§ Mr. HoyI am aware of the increase in fishing effort in the international waters of the North Atlantic. We are playing our full part with the other countries concerned in the work of the international commissions responsible for the conservation of the fish stocks and we are assisting the continuing modernisation of our fleet with the object of ensuring adequate supplies for consumers.