§ Mr. Donald Stewartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken by the Government to improve the position of Scottish fishermen through negotiations with the European Economic Community about fishing limits, conservation of stocks and other pertinent matters.
§ Mr. YoungerThe Government's aim in the negotiations for a revised common fisheries policy is to secure an agreement which will take proper account of the needs of the United Kingdom fishing industry, including those of Scottish fishermen, and will contain provisions on access which give protection to our inshore fishermen and to those coastal communities dependent on fishing. Agreement has already been reached on a conservation regime which largely reflects the United Kingdom's own national measures in force prior to that agreement.
Recent elections in other member States have restricted the scope for early progress in the negotiations but we are meantime continuing to explore in bilateral talks with other member States the prospects for reaching a satisfactory settlement.