Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Scottish Fishing Industry

Wednesday 22 February 2023 · 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 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister praised David Duguid for championing the seafood sector in Scotland.
  • UK Government plans to include seafood processing in energy support beyond April.
  • Minister expressed confidence that the UK Government delivers best for fishing communities.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 David Duguid Con
Scotland Business & Trade
Context

The question arises from concerns about the adequacy of government support for Scotland's fishing industry, particularly in relation to energy costs and infrastructure.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of Government support for the Scottish fishing industry? I welcome the response of my hon. Friend. I also welcome the UK Government's decision to include seafood processing in ongoing energy support beyond April. However, even before last year's increases in energy costs, brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there was already support for energy intensive industries to other food processors, such as pork, poultry and milled grain, but not fish.

Answer from John Lamont

May I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend's work in championing the seafood sector in Scotland? I look forward to visiting his constituency next month to chair the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group where I will meet industry representatives. The UK Government's energy intensive industries compensation scheme supports industries exposed to significant risk of carbon leakage and is targeted at the most electricity-intensive sectors that are competing in international markets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of seafood processing not being included in pre-existing support for other food processors was not addressed.

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Q2 David Duguid Con
Scotland Energy
Context

The question continues to explore the adequacy of government support, focusing on energy costs and infrastructure projects.

Question

I welcome the response of my hon. Friend. I also welcome the UK Government's decision to include seafood processing in ongoing energy support beyond April. However, even before last year's increases in energy costs, brought on by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, there was already support for energy intensive industries to other food processors, such as pork, poultry and milled grain, but not fish.

Answer from John Lamont

May I first pay tribute to my hon. Friend's work in championing the seafood sector in Scotland? I look forward to visiting his constituency next month to chair the Scottish Seafood Industry Action Group where I will meet industry representatives. The UK Government's energy intensive industries compensation scheme supports industries exposed to significant risk of carbon leakage and is targeted at the most electricity-intensive sectors that are competing in international markets.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific issue of seafood processing not being included in pre-existing support for other food processors was not addressed.

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Q3 Angus MacNeil SNP
Scotland
Context

The question addresses the economic performance and benefits of devolved versus independent structures for fisheries, using examples from Ireland and other regions.

Question

To progress the structure for fisheries in Scotland, surely we have to move on from devolved Scotland to independent Scotland? I am sure the Minister can see that in Ireland there is independent Ireland in the Republic, and devolved Ireland in Northern Ireland. Which does he think is delivering better economically and for fisheries in Ireland: the devolved version or the independent version?

Answer from John Lamont

I am very confident that for all fishing communities across the United Kingdom it is this Government who are delivering best. I am clear that none of the fishing communities in Scotland wishes to go back into the common fisheries policy, which the SNP advocates.

Not addressed: The question about comparative economic performance was not addressed; instead, the answer focused on a different policy issue.

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