§ Mr. McNamaraasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is his estimate of (a) the maximum and (b) the minimum number of trawlers that should be laid up as a direct result of the Icelandic fisheries agreement.
(2) what is his Department's estimate of the number of sea-going and the number of shore jobs that will be lost as a result of the Icelandic fisheries agreement; what are the optimistic and pessimistic figures based on the number of vessels laid up; which are the fishing ports concerned; and what will be the percentage and absolute increase in unemployment in the areas involved.
§ Mr. BishopIn the short term much will depend on the management decisions of the industry, the extent to which there are alternative opportunities for redeployment of vessels and the decisions of fish buyers following the change in pattern of supplies. It would be premature for me to publish estimates, but my hon. Friend can be assured that I am keeping in close touch with the situation.