To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority; and what subjects were discussed.

I have not yet had an opportunity, since assuming my new responsibilities, of meeting the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, but look forward to doing so soon.

I hope that the Minister will meet the SFIA chairman very soon, and that during that meeting he will impress on him the need for him to meet the leaders of fishermen's organisations and to involve them fully in the training programmes that are to be mounted. The Minister will be aware that the European Community is urging that there should be training programmes across the EC, but it is crucial that those training programmes should meet local needs. Will the Minister do what I ask?

I am glad to welcome a question such as that. I agree with every word of it in thought and substance.

When the Minister meets the chairman of the Sea Fish Industry Authority, will he offer that gentleman the assurance that the Government have no intention whatever of abandoning the vessel building scheme? May I point out to him that there is growing concern among fishermen that the Government intend to abandon the scheme, except to provide replacement vessels for vessels lost at sea. Will he, here and now, dispel those genuine and growing fears of our fishermen?

The Government put no restrictions on people building their own boats. However, there is an EC moratorium on the priorities for boat building. We have to consider the size of the British and European fleets. It would be ridiculous to continue building bigger, better and faster boats with greater capacity for a diminishing fish stock. We must put conservation first and boat building second.