§ Mr. Sproatasked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will seek to have urgent discussions with members of that part of the fishing industry engaged in an industrial dispute in the North-East of Scotland regarding the cause of that dispute and means of restoring viability to the industry;
(2)if he will make a statement on the current fishing dispute in the North-East of Scotland;
(3)if he will make a statement on the effects of rising costs and low prices and foreign imports on the viability of those parts of the fishing industry engaged in an industrial dispute in the North-East of Scotland; and what latest action he is taking to restore viability to the fishing industry;
208W(4) what latest action he has taken, and what current investigation he is making, regarding the dumping of cheap foreign fish in the United Kingdom, in connection with the fishing dispute in the North-East of Scotland.
§ Mr. YoungerBecause of my concern at the difficulties currently facing the industry, I invited the president of the Scottish Fishermen's Federation to bring a delegation of fishermen to see me yesterday. I assured the delegation that the Government are working energetically to achieve a settlement of a common fisheries policy which will safeguard the livelihood of fishermen. I stressed the importance for the Government's negotiating stance of having the continued support of the industry when these negotiations resume next week.
The delegation told me of its deep concern at the prices recently being realised at the pierhead at a time of increasing operating costs, particularly for fuel. I referred to the fact that new Community withdrawal prices and reference prices which are substantially higher for good quality fish of those species of primary importance to the industry were introduced on 2 February largely as a result of strong pressure by the United Kingdom in negotiations in Brussels over recent months. While there is no action that the government can take to stop imports entering the country legitimately from other Community countries, the increased reference prices should help to provide a greater degree of protection against non-Community imports.
I assured the delegation that the Government are already pursuing allegations being made that fish is coming into this country from the Netherlands which has previously been withdrawn from the market there, having failed to sell above the official withdrawal price. This matter was raised last night with the Dutch Minister who has undertaken to investigate it fully. It is, of course, open to the Commission to take immediate steps against any such breach of the EC fish marketing regulations.
I also urged the delegation to give careful thought to the difficulties of the fish processing factories which, in the absence meantime of a herring fishery, require imports of herring if they are to remain viable. These plants provide an outlet for much of the domestic fish catch and are also a major source of employment in the North-East of Scotland.
I reminded the delegation of the considerable amount of aid which the Government have made available to the fishing industry over the past year as an earnest of our determination to support it during its present difficulties. Although the present aid scheme runs until the end of the financial year, we have nevertheless now decided that further aid is necessary and I have already asked the leaders of the industry in Scotland to let me have as soon as possible a detailed statement of their financial position.
I hope that in the light of this announcement those fishermen who have been demonstrating over the last few days will feel able to resume their normal pattern of fishing.