HC Deb 13 January 1978 vol 941 cc870-2W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will compare the cost of a pint of milk and of a pint of beer, at constant prices and at current prices, in 1950, 1960, 1970, 1975 and January 1978.

Mr. Bishop

The information is not available for beer in the form requested. The following table gives the best comparison possible on the existing information:

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has any plans to enter into bilateral negotiations with Norway in the event of failure to reach agreement on fishing at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers.

Mr. Bishop

It is the Government's objective to reach agreement on the common fisheries policy in the Council of Ministers. However, my right hon. Friend has been invited by the Norwegian Minister for the Law of the Sea, Mr. Evensen, to visit Norway some time this year for informal discussions and he intends to accept that invitation.

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the composition by species of the EEC catch that is being sought by the fishing industry in the current talks being held in Brussels.

Mr. Bishop

In the current state of negotiations in Brussels it would not be appropriate to give this information, but the United Kingdom has made it clear that we are seeking a division of resources which adequately reflect the United Kingdom's contribution to the fish resources of the Community and our losses in the waters of third countries.

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to dissuade the EEC Council of Ministers from placing reliance on the system of quotas when renegotiating the common fisheries policy.

Mr. Bishop

In the past quotas have not been observed, but quotas properly enforced do have a rôle to play in the overall management of fisheries resources as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland said in the House on 28th November 1977.—[Vol. 940, c. 193.]

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the consequence to the United Kingdom fishing industry of the EEC's Commision's latest catch quota proposal for 1978 of 529,000 tonnes, as opposed to 540,000 tonnes.

Mr. Bishop

The Government have already made clear that the Commission proposals are unacceptable. Hence no such estimate has been made.

Mr. Beith

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the EEC total catch and what percentage of the allocated EEC catch has been allocated to the United Kingdom in the latest Commission proposal.

Mr. Bishop

The Commission proposals for 1978 produced in October 1977 comprise a total available catch (TAC) of 3,665,000 tonnes, of which the United Kingdom quota forms some 15 per cent. and an EEC quota of 2,282,000 tonnes of which the United Kingdom quota forms some 19 per cent.