§ 49. Mr. James Johnsonasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement regarding the depressed state of the fish markets in Hull and Grimsby due to the landing of fish by foreign vessels; and what steps he is taking to curb this.
§ Mr. StrangFirsthand prices fall in February each year. The average fall in the first three weeks of February this year at Hull and Grimsby was much smaller than that which occurred in February 1975 but larger than in February 1973 and 1974. A complex series of factors conditions this seasonal fall. Quantity and price of imports are but two of them. The EEC reference price arrangements are intended to provide protection against unduly low-priced imports but, as Mr. Lardinois said to the European Parliament,710W improvements are needed. We have been in touch with the Commission at official level and urgent discussions are in progress.