HC Deb 28 June 1978 vol 952 cc582-4W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for a decasualisation scheme for the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Harold Walker

We are anxious to promote the establishment of a decasualisation scheme in the fishing industry but it is highly desirable that this should be on the basis of agreement between employers and union. Accordingly, my right hon. Friend and I have held a number of meetings with the British Fishing Federation and with the Transport and General Workers' Union. We hope that the details of a scheme will emerge in due course from these discussions.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for a redundancy payments scheme for those fishermen who have been thrown out of work by the contraction of the industry or who might lose their jobs through further contraction in the future.

Mr. Harold Walker

We are currently discussing decasualisation with representatives of workers and employers in the fishing industry and it is in that context that we think the issue of redundancy payments for fishermen can best be pursued.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received about a redundancy payments scheme for fishermen.

Mr. Harold Walker

I have received representations from the Transport and General Workers' Union.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what happened to the £300,000 offered by Her Majesty's Government for a scheme of redundancy payments for fishermen at the time of the Icelandic negotiations; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Harold Walker

In 1976 the Government discussed with the unions and employers in the fishing industry the feasibility of an arrangement for compensating those fishermen whose employment was directly affected by the Oslo agreement. I informed the House on 19th October 1976 that after careful joint consideration both employers and unions had concluded that it was not practicable to devise such a scheme.