§ Mr. James Johnsonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement upon the talks he held on 24th and 25th May with the Foreign Minister of Iceland regarding her territorial fishing limits.
§ Mr. Anthony RoyleThe Icelandic Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Einar Agustsson, accompanied by the Minister for Fisheries, Mr. Ludvik Josefsson, visited London from the 23rd to 25th May for discussions with British Ministers on the fisheries dispute between the two countries. They had conversations with my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, and held more detailed discussions on an interim arrangement, concerning British fishing in the waters off Iceland after 1st September and pending a definitive settlement of the dispute. The British delegation at these discussions wes led by my noble Friend the Minister of State and included my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
No agreement on an interm arrangement was concluded at these discussions but both sides agreed on the necessity 523W of reaching agreement on practical arrangements. It was agreed that both sides would reflect further on the form that such arrangements might take and that they should meet again in June.