Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Scottish Fishing Industry

Wednesday 3 November 2021 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Andrew Bowie asked the Minister about steps being taken to support the Scottish fishing industry and to break the monopoly of foreign-owned companies.
  • The Minister acknowledged the loss of Scottish fishing quotas to foreign-owned vessels under the common fisheries policy.
  • Alistair Carmichael warned that upcoming weeks are crucial for businesses exporting fish to continental Europe and asked for assurance on the reliability of supply.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the steps being taken to support the Scottish fishing industry, particularly in light of recent negotiations with Norway over Arctic cod quotas.

Question

What steps he is taking to support the Scottish fishing industry. Following that, I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. As a newly independent coastal state seeking this week to negotiate with Norway an agreement on Arctic cod, what is he doing to break the monopoly of foreign-owned and slyly named UK Fisheries, which has had more than its fill from Svalbard and has for decades fleeced the Scottish fishing industry over the UK quota on Arctic cod?

Answer from Iain Stewart

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I am well aware of the representations the catching sector in Scotland has made over quotas it lost when we were a part of the common fisheries policy. That saw Scottish quotas swapped for the benefit of a foreign-owned vessel. I am sure that being an independent coastal state must mean that we look after our truly domestic businesses first and foremost.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how to break UK Fisheries' monopoly or ensure fair treatment in negotiations with Norway

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Q2 Andrew Bowie Con West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine
Agriculture & Rural Affairs
Context

The question addresses the steps being taken to support the Scottish fishing industry, particularly in light of recent negotiations with Norway over Arctic cod quotas.

Question

Following that, I thank my hon. Friend for that answer. As a newly independent coastal state seeking this week to negotiate with Norway an agreement on Arctic cod, what is he doing to break the monopoly of foreign-owned and slyly named UK Fisheries, which has had more than its fill from Svalbard and has for decades fleeced the Scottish fishing industry over the UK quota on Arctic cod?

Answer from Iain Stewart

My hon. Friend makes an important point. I am well aware of the representations the catching sector in Scotland has made over quotas it lost when we were a part of the common fisheries policy. That saw Scottish quotas swapped for the benefit of a foreign-owned vessel. I am sure that being an independent coastal state must mean that we look after our truly domestic businesses first and foremost.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not address how to break UK Fisheries' monopoly or ensure fair treatment in negotiations with Norway

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Q3 Alistair Carmichael Lib Dem Orkney and Shetland
Brexit Business & Trade
Context

The question addresses the need to ensure that recent compensation promises made by DEFRA are being properly fulfilled, particularly in cases where businesses have sold their product at a discount rather than allowing it to rot.

Question

I hope the Minister is aware that the next few weeks will be the most important weeks of the year for businesses exporting fish to continental Europe. Nothing should be done that will affect confidence in the reliability of supply from these shores. These are the same people who were absolutely hammered in the first week of the year as a consequence of the shambolic start to the year. They were promised compensation by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs at that stage. I have spoken to one supplier in Shetland who has been told that if he had allowed his fish to rot on the quayside, he would have got full compensation, but because he sold it at a significant discount in the domestic market, he will get nothing. Surely that it is not how it was supposed to work?

Answer from Iain Stewart

I am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for raising that point. If he cares to send me the details of that firm, I will certainly follow that up with my colleagues in the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and make sure that the scheme has been working as it should have been.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not provide a commitment or timeline on ensuring fair compensation

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