HC Deb 27 April 1995 vol 258 cc700-1W
Rev. Ian Paisley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what further swaps the Government are considering with Norway to benefit the Irish sea. [19925]

Mr. Ancram

None.

Rev. Ian Paisley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Government are adopting to protect the United Kingdom's fishing fleet, following the disappearance of the Irish box from 1 January 1996. [19923]

Mr. Ancram

Under the new arrangements for western waters, our industry's ability to take their quotas is fully protected. We secured a key enforcement role for coastal states under the new arrangements agreed in December 1994. We will be taking full advantage of this key enforcement role to monitor fishing activity in our waters, including those by vessels from other member states, to ensure the new rules are properly policed. The Government have already announced that it will provide the necessary resources to do so.

Rev. Ian Paisley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures the Government is proposing to compensate those areas of the United Kingdom that are discriminated against by the Hague preference. [19924]

Mr. Ancram

The Government have made a commitment to seek to reduce through quota swaps any disadvantage to Northern Ireland and Wales resulting from the application of the Hague preference in the Irish sea. In honouring this commitment, quota swaps have already been agreed this year with the Republic of Ireland and with the Netherlands for additional quotas of Irish sea cod and whiting which are affected by the Hague preference arrangements and which are two of the most important stocks to Northern Ireland fishermen.

Rev. Ian Paisley

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what indications Her Majesty's Government have received from the Republic of Ireland that it is willing to allocate some of the fish quotas that it does not catch to Northern Ireland fishermen. [19926]

Mr. Ancram

A quota swap has already been agreed with the Republic of Ireland for additional quotas of Irish sea cod and whiting which are important stocks for Northern Ireland fishermen.