§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will raise at the next Council of Ministers meetings the matter of Icelandic fish sold below market price in European ports; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonWe monitor offer prices of third country fish imported into the United Kingdom against the relevant Community reference prices. I can assure my hon. Friend that where we find low-priced imports justifying action within the terms of the Community's fish marketing regime, I shall raise the matter swiftly with the Commission and if necessary with my fellow Fisheries Ministers in the Community.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the import of Icelandic fish into the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the future of North sea ports which handle Icelandic fish currently and after 1992.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonProtocol 6 of the general trade agreement between the European Community and Iceland provides for certain fish products access to the Community at preferential rates of duty, subject in the case of frozen fish fillets to observance by Iceland of the Community's reference price. Further, the Community's reference price system provides for the Commission to take action to prevent disruption of the Community market if significant60W quantities of third country imports enter the Community below the appropriate reference price on three consecutive days.
The Icelandic fish trade into North sea ports is long established. I have no knowledge that this will change either before or after 1992.
§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he next expects to meet with his counterpart in Iceland to discuss the sale of Icelandic fish in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI have no plans for a meeting.