§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is not seeking to ensure that, in areas apart from North Scotland and the Irish Sea, fishing outside 12 miles is conducted in a way which provides the dependent local fishing communities with a genuine preference.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThe terms of the Hague agreement negotiated by the Labour Administration in 1976 precludes the possibility of access preferences outside 12 miles except in certain especially sensitive areas which include the "northern" parts of the United Kingdom. At our insistence the European Commission has conceded that this definition includes not only Scotland, but also Northern Ireland and the North-Eastern Coast of England south to Bridlington. It is the view of Her Majesty's Government that, within this area, restrictions on fishing by large vessels round North Scotland and in the Irish Sea would be of most benefit to the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Strangasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is still his policy to secure a 400W dominant preference for British fishermen between 12 and 50 miles from the British coast in the current European Economic Community negotations on a common fisheries policy.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithI refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Waltham Forest (Mr. Deakins) on 12 March.—[Vol. 1000, c. 424.]