Mr Patrick Wall: It seems that today there is tri-partisan agreement with the Government in their diplomacy to try to restore the Falkland Islands without resorting to too much force. I am sure that that is what the country would wish. What I have not quite understood from either of the Opposition speeches, however, is what would happen if the junta in Buenos Aires refused to accept our minimum conditions....
Mr Patrick Wall: asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he now plans to give further assistance to the fishing industry.
Mr Patrick Wall: Is my right hon. Friend aware that the desperate straits in which deep-water vessels now find themselves will be exacerbated by restrictions on their fishing? Is he further aware that these ships and crews are also important as part of our naval reserves? When will the discussions be completed? Does he realise that there is very little time left if we wish to keep the deep-water fleet?
Mr Patrick Wall: Is not the loss of HMS "Sheffield" a clear indication that we have now reached the missile age? Is my right hon. Friend aware that the only effective defence against sea-skimming missile s is Sea Wolf? Will my right hon. Friend press ahead as a matter of the utmost urgency with lightweight Sea Wolf and see that that weapon system is installed in most of our ships?
Mr Patrick Wall: My hon. Friend said that when Hamilton dock is filled in there will be the same number of berths as at present. Will not the large barges used by oil companies for transporting their erections also be using that dock, which will make it almost impossible for the berthing of fishing vessels?
Mr Patrick Wall: I congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Thornton) on the way in which he introduced the Bill, although I cannot altogether agree with him that the British Transport Docks Board has been reasonable or even sensible in all the actions proposed in the Bill. The House will know that the hon. Members for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson) and Berwick-upon-Tweed...
Mr Patrick Wall: I am aware that progress has been made, but is my right hon. Friend aware that most fishermen have given up hope of obtaining a satisfactory solution to the CFP before the end of the year? What actions do the Government propose to prevent foreigners from fishing right up to our beaches in the future?
Mr Patrick Wall: Although Government aid to the fishing industry has been about £58 million a year, does the Minister recognise that there is still a case for further aid, pending restructuring? Does he also recognise that there is a special case for distant-water vessels and vessels under 60 ft. long?
Mr Patrick Wall: asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is satisfied with the steps the fifteen North Atlantic Treaty Organisation nations have taken to formulate an agreed policy of response to any further unfavourable developments in Poland.
Mr Patrick Wall: In view of the lack of allied co-operation over Afghanistan and Soviet sanctions—
Mr Patrick Wall: In view of the lack of allied co-operation in the former cases, will my right hon. Friend assure the House that, should the Soviet Union take over Poland, allied co-operation has already been agreed and will be immediate?
Mr Patrick Wall: What progress has been made in discussions with the Americans about the next generation of NATO torpedoes with a British front end and a rear end made by the Americans?
Mr Patrick Wall: The right hon. Gentleman will recall that I said that in a short war, not a nuclear war, the Russians could break through in seven days. Is he suggesting that we should have the same number of dockyards now as when we had a fleet that was five or six times the size of the present fleet?
Mr Patrick Wall: The hon. Gentleman will appreciate that Japan depends entirely on the United States for defence. Does he want Britain to be in that position also?
Mr Patrick Wall: I want the Japanese to spend more on defence.
Mr Patrick Wall: It was predictable that the hon. Member for Harlow (Mr. Newens) would talk about Trident. I shall not take up his remarks at any length. I merely say that we are talking about the 1990s. He was honest enough to say that not much money would be spent on Trident in the immediate future. I think that about £80 million will be spent this year. The question is: would the Soviet Union fear two...
Mr Patrick Wall: I am sure that the hon. Gentleman is genuine in saying that he wants to retain American friendship, but how we shall do that if we throw the Americans out of their British bases—their air bases and their Polaris bases—and leave NATO is beyond my comprehension. When the Government came to power they promised to give first priority to defence, and that is exactly what they did. They...
Mr Patrick Wall: Does the hon. Member agree that the main reason for that is the high prices charged by the docks board in Hull compared with other ports?
Mr Patrick Wall: The right hon. Member for Western Isles (Mr. Stewart) will appreciate that the Government amendment is expressed in wider terms than the Opposition motion, and is, therefore, better suited to the industry. Hon. Members will agree that access and quotas are linked. The industry initially asked for a 50-mile exclusive zone and a 200-mile preferential limit. When proper negotiations began the...
Mr Patrick Wall: Is not one of the roles of British defence strategy the immediate reinforcement of Northern Norway? Will my hon. Friend explain how Northern Norway can be reinforced at times of tension if the two landing platform docks—HMS "Fearless" and HMS "Intrepid"—are scrapped?
