ROBERTSON ON FISHING INDUSTRY
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Speaking from the House of Commons this afternoon, Moray MP Angus Robertson slammed the Government's continued inaction over the fishing crisis facing Scotland and other costal communities across the UK.
This afternoon in Business Questions, Mr Robertson asked for time in the House to be allocated to debate recent events relating to the fishing industry.
He said:
"This week has seen the European Commission admit in a memo that its plans would disproportionately hit the industry in countries such as Scotland, but still the Westminster Government refuses to take the issue seriously.
"John Reid spoke today of the need to protect the industry for future generations, despite the fact that the Commission itself has admitted that the industry will not survive that long. Rather than ducking the issue, the Government needs to revise its plans for the industry to ensure that we have a package of measures that can ensure its survival, not its obliteration.
"Taking up the offer of European funding for the industry would be a welcome first step in that direction.
"I urge the Government again to change their tack on fishing, or there will be no industry left to protect.
NOTE FOR EDITORS
Full transcript of Angus Robertson MP's question today:
Angus Robertson: In the spirit of non-partisanship, can I offer
congratulations to the Leader of the House on behalf of the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, and when he's considering this evening's birthday meal, can I ask him in a spirit of solidarity, to consider eating fish. After all, the Scottish fish industry has suffered a double whammy this week with the European Commission confirming that industrial fisheries should be allowed to continue in the North Sea, but Scottish fishermen and fishermen from elsewhere in the UK are going to see their quotas cut dramatically. At the same time, the Commission announced 32m Euros worth of funding should be available for communities such as those that I represent in additional funding. I understand that the Government are not going to draw on these funds to help fishing communities. When will the house have the time to debate this matter, which is of supreme importance to fishing communities around this island?
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Moray MP Receives Nimrod Assurances
Thursday, May 8, 2003
Moray MP Angus Robertson has welcomed assurances on the troubled Nimrod plane contract by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and BAe Systems at a special Westminster briefing.
All of the UK's Nimrod Maritime reconnaissance planes are based at RAF Kinloss in Mr Robertson's constituency and the project to upgrade and replace the aging Nimrod fleet by BAe Systems has been dogged by technical problems and cost overruns.
Mr Robertson, who is the SNP's Westminster Defence spokesman asked for the briefing by top civil servants and BAe managers after widespread concerns were raised in Moray about the Nimrod upgrade, its cost and consequences for RAF Kinloss.
Speaking after the briefing Mr Robertson said:
"Assurances have been given by the MOD and BAe that they are working to make the upgrade of Nimrod go to plan. Officials reiterated that there is an absolute commitment to maintain and enhance maritime reconnaissance capability and that there are no plans to re-locate from RAF Kinloss. This means manning levels at RAF Kinloss will continue to be significant.
"Service personnel in Moray will be glad to know that there is a strong determination to proceed with the upgrade, hopefully within the agreed timescale. I sincerely wish from a taxpayer perspective that the cost over-runs will cease, but it an exceptionally complex technical project.
"Important project assessments need to take place in the months ahead and I hope that they will give the green light to the production phase, which will eventually produce 18 Nimrod MRA4 aircraft to be stationed in Moray.
"Sadly changes have had to be made to the project which will result in hundreds of BAe workers losing their jobs in Scotland and down south. The company and MOD have made commitments to try and limit this negative impact.
ENDS
Background note:
Angus Robertson MP was briefed by BAe systems Nimrod Managing Director Joe Harland and the Nimrod Integrated Project Team of the MOD. The meeting at the House of Commons was hosted by Dari Taylor MP, Parliamentary Private Secretary to Lord Bach, Minister for Defence Procurement.
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