PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
AID FOR FISHING (2 April 2001)

That this House, while deeply concerned at the plight of agriculture, the tourist industry and the countryside generally as a result of foot and mouth, reminds the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that the fishing industry is also suffering and in financial crisis because of the restriction of fishing opportunities, the reduction of catches, the increase in fuel costs, and the need to restrict effort to preserve stocks in the conservation crisis, so that both the catching and processing sides are in desperate need of help in the form of operating support, de-commissioning investment for re-structuring and an alleviation of the heavy burdens of inspection and landing charges, light dues, waste water charges etc; points out that competing fishing industries in other EU countries have been given substantial temporary aid to help them through the crisis and concludes that Parliament, the nation and MAFF should not allow the needs of fishing to be obscured because Britain needs a vigorous, healthy and powerful fishing industry, not one weakened by the present combination of crisis and neglect and considers that the pathetic 6 million pounds allocated to the English industry is totally inadequate compared to the 27 million pounds in Scotland and the bigger aid packages available to other EU fishermen; and suggests that MAFF should maintain absolute parity of aid and support between Scotland and England and between the UK and other EU fishing industries.

Sponsored by:
Austin Mitchell (Labour)