§ Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase of landings of fish caught in the Minches has resulted from the change of fishing limits; and what estimate he has made of the future trend of catches from the Minches particularly after the United Kingdom's entry to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. Gordon CampbellLandings by British vessels at north-west ports, mostly caught in the Minches, increased from 1.1 million cwt., worth £2.3 million, in 1963 to 2.7 million cwt., worth £7.2 million in 1971. The Minch lies entirely behind the base lines from which fishery limits are measured and has therefore been closed to fishing by foreign vessels since 1964. Since our entry to the European Economic Community will not alter these base lines, and since foreign vessels178W will therefore continue to be prohibited from fishing in the Minches, I see no reason for the present trend in landings by British vessels to change on this account.