§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the fact that Icelandic fish is being offered on the quayside at British ports at £1 per stone for haddock and £3 per stone for cod, he will take further steps to protect the United Kingdom market.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithWe are monitoring very closely import prices at British ports. Where there is evidence of imports at below the reference price this is reported immediately to the Commission. Were such imports to reach a significant level it would be for the Commission to propose measures to protect the market.
§ Mr. McQuarrieasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the Community Agriculture Council the blacking of British fish in France during the week commencing 7 July of the current year when lorries containing fresh fish attempted to enter that country.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI understand that there were difficulties in respect of a single consignment of fish to a French market at the beginning of last week but that the consignment was subsequently sold. This incident has been discussed between officials of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland and the exporter.
If there were evidence of serious interference with our fishermen's center to offer fish for sale anywhere within the Community we would, of course, be ready 444W to take the matter up with the appropriate authorities.