HC Deb 22 May 1980 vol 985 cc273-4W
Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, in the light of current and forthcoming redundancies in the fishing industry, what proposals he has for decasualisation of the industry and for redundancy payments to those currently losing their jobs.

Mr. Jim Lester

The conditions of employment in the trawler fishing industry are a matter for negotiation within the industry. Trawler fishermen are covered by the redundancy payments provisions of the Employment Protection (Consolidation) Act 1978.

Mr. Austin Mitchell

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what progress has been made in the talks between the two sides of the fishing industry to secure agreement on decasualisation which were initiated by his predecessor.

Mr. Jim Lester

I understand that agreement on the framework of a scheme was reached in 1979.