§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet replied to the representations from the British Trawlers Federation for financial aid to the British fishing industry.
§ Mr. BishopThe Federation recently published information about average operating results achieved by vessels in its membership during the 12-month period ended 30th September 1975. Aid was, of course, given for three-quarters of that period based on earlier assessments of need. The Federation is, I understand, preparing cost and earnings projections for the following 12-month period. My right hon. Friend has told the BTF that if a case of overwhelming need were established and documented he would be ready to consider it.
§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the loss of job opportunities for fishermen as the result of the voluntary agreement of the trawling industry to limit its fishing effort off Iceland to an annual basis of 100,000 tons of fish and the number of trawlers from 139 to 105.
§ Mr. BishopI estimate that the loss of job opportunities at sea will be about 300 to 400 and employment opportunities in a much greater number of related shore jobs will also be reduced. All sections of the British fishing industry have throughout the latest fishing dispute with Iceland shown great restraint and readiness to make sacrifices in order both to avoid any danger to the fish stocks around Iceland, and to contribute towards a compromise solution to the dispute. The recent agreement gives further proof of this.