§ Mr. Beithasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence that fishing vessels from any European Economic Community country have ever fished for herring within 12 miles of the Northumberland coast.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe rights accorded to the Netherlands and the Federal Republic of Germany under the 1964 London convention to fish for herring off North-East England, which were described in the reply to the hon. Member of 26 February, were given because vessels from these countries had habitually fished there between January 1953 and December 1962.
In addition, since 1 January 1973 all member States of the European Community have had the right to fish for herring in the 6–12 mile zone from Coquet Island to Berwick-upon-Tweed, except during those periods when herring fishing has been banned. My Department is not aware of the extent to which these rights have been exercised.