Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Agriculture, Fisheries and Food – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 15 May 1980.
Mr Alick Buchanan-Smith
, Angus North and Mearns
12:00,
15 May 1980
Money under the aid scheme to the fish producers' organisations is already going to those organisations. We are still considering tenders for exploratory voyages, and after discussion we hope in the near future to announce that some of the tenders have been accepted. I acknowledge the problems facing the fishing industry. One of the biggest problems is uncertainty about the future, which is the result of not knowing the outcome of the common fisheries policy negotiations. That is why we are pursuing these negotiations with resolution, and I trust that we shall receive the support of the Opposition.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
