§ Mr. Hal Millerasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has discussed the cod catch in waters claimed by Iceland with his Common Market colleagues; and if he will disclose the terms of any agreements they may have reached with Iceland in this respect.
§ Mr. BishopMy officials and I have been in close touch with the representatives of the Commission and the other member States throughout the current dispute with Iceland. Two member States—Belgium and Germany—reached agreements with the Icelandic Government on 28th and 29th November, respectively. The Belgian agreement, which is of indefinite duration, provides for an 595W annual catch quota of 6,500 tonnes, of which not more than 1,500 tonnes may be cod. That entered into by Germany is for two years, terminable after five months if the trade concessions provided for in the 1972 agreement between the EEC and Iceland have not by then been implemented, and provides for an annual catch by German trawlers of 60,000 tonnes, of which not more than 5,000 tonnes may be cod.