UK Parliament / Open data

Fisheries Bill

Proceeding contribution from Deidre Brock (Scottish National Party) in the House of Commons on Wednesday, 21 November 2018. It occurred during Debate on bills on Fisheries Bill.

My hon. Friend makes a very good point and I am delighted that she brings up the interests of the south-west part of the country.

Once more, Scotland’s needs are massively different to the needs of England. Once more, we cannot have the Scottish industry locked into a rigid framework that will satisfy the English industry. Fishing, of course, has been a devolved matter since 1999 and the responsibility for nearly all the policy area rests in Edinburgh. I think the Government acknowledge as much, with the legislative consent motion they have asked for at Holyrood.

The industry cannot be squeezed into the same box as the English industry, but I appreciate the desirability of common frameworks to allow co-operative working on various issues—kind of like the EU managed with the CFP. Where such frameworks are sought and agreed by both sides they will be mutually beneficial, but they cannot be imposed. They must recognise the devolution settlement and respect it. There must be an element of trust that runs between Whitehall and Holyrood. Her Majesty’s Government must allow Scotland’s Government to govern in the devolved areas and this Parliament must allow Scotland’s Parliament to legislate in devolved areas.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
649 c920 
Session
2017-19
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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