§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a detailed statement on his discussions on Monday, 23rd October, with the Trawler Industry Action Committee.
§ Mr. PriorFollowing is the text of the joint statement issued yesterday
Strong representations for an immediate Royal Navy presence with British trawlers off Iceland were made by members of the British Deep-Sea Fishing Industry Joint Action Committee in an hour-long discussion with the right hon. James Prior, MP, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food this afternoon.Members of the Action Committee expressed deep concern on behalf of skippers, crews, owners and families of those engaged in fishing 244W off Iceland. They said they feared further incidents involving British trawlers would lead to loss of life or injury unless the Royal Navy was present to act in a police rôle.The Minister associated himself with the concern expressed about the present situation. He undertook to report the strong views of the committee to his colleagues and to consider urgently with them what further steps were necessary. He told the committee that two Royal Navy frigates were now on station off Iceland and he reminded members that Mr. Anthony Royle (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs) had already made the Government's position clear when he told the House of Commons last week 'The British Government … reserves the right in the event of further interference to take without further notice such measures as we may consider appropriate to protect our vessels.'".