asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present state of negotiations within the European Economic Community with regard to reciprocal fishing rights with third countries.

The Community has reached agreement on reciprocal fishing rights for 1980 with Norway, Sweden, the Faroe Islands and Spain.

Is the Minister aware that we appreciate the way in which he has dealt with these negotiations? Will he publicise the results of his efforts so that the fishing industry is aware of how well we are proceeding?

There is no doubt that some reciprocal negotiations—I refer particularly to Norway, and to a lesser extent to the Faroes—have afforded the opportunity for our fishermen to fish in other waters. I am glad to say that we have witnessed a reduction in fishing in our waters by Spanish vessels which better reflects the balance of advantage between the two nations. The issue of reciprocal rights is a difficult one, and I hope that, with patience, we shall see even more satisfactory arrangements in the future.

The only aspect of the problem of imports that can be affected by the Commission's negotiations is imports from third parties, yet a major part of these imports is from Common Market countries. We are speaking of our fish, caught in our waters, and dumped on our market. What proposal does the Minister have to impose an emergency levy on all imports and to act unilaterally by bringing aid to our fishing industry up to the level given to Common Market fishing fleets?

If the hon. Gentleman has evidence of dumping—that was the word that he used—I hope that he will provide that evidence so that we can investigate it.

Mrs. Kellert-Bowman:

I appreciate my hon. Friend's efforts over reciprocal fishing rights, but does he accept that reciprocal enforcement is infinitely more important? According to the film to which he referred, not only is France infringing rights, but it seems that other community countries should take much stricter enforcement action against their own fishermen.

It is interesting to note—in contrast to the kind of incident that receives publicity on television and elsewhere—that recently two German trawlers fishing off Greenland, were fined, in one case £200,000, and in the other £175,000, and had their nets confiscated. I believe that that indicates that on a reciprocal basis—though incidents such as I have just quoted, do not, unfortunately, get the same publicity—efforts are being made by other countries to ensure that the regulations are observed