Leaving the EU: the Rural Economy
Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Calum Kerr(7 years, 10 months ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Calum Kerr
I thank my hon. Friend for that excellent contribution, which brings me on to one of the first areas that I want to look at. Nowhere is the policy vacuum more apparent than on the issue of farm payments. Whatever its flaws—
Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)
I congratulate the hon. Gentleman on making some very compelling points. We have a similar situation in Northern Ireland where 80% of farm incomes are dependent on European resources. Does he agree that there is a fear that that sort of funding is not likely to come from the Treasury, thus undermining our local rural economy and our agricultural enterprises?
Fisheries Policy
Debate between Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick and Calum Kerr(8 years, 11 months ago)
Westminster HallRead Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
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Calum Kerr
I thank the hon. Gentleman for his contribution; I always enjoy them. [Interruption.] I am still to develop that skill. We are at a point where the issue is not whether we should be in or out of the CFP, but how we can make it better, more effective and work for all our communities. I look forward to sparring with him when we come to the EU debate.
Ms Margaret Ritchie (South Down) (SDLP)
The hon. Gentleman is making compelling points. Does he not agree that if we are to have areas of compromise, it would be best to ensure greater devolution under the CFP, so that we had continued membership of the European Union while enjoying the benefits of greater decision making in relation to quotas?
Calum Kerr
What the hon. Lady said is what I should have said. I thank her for that most excellent intervention—I shall endeavour to visit Hansard and memorise it for next time. I am surprised we got this far without that coming up, but I notice one or two Eurosceptics in the Chamber. The important point to make is that, all along, the SNP has championed the regional approach to fisheries, and we will continue to do so. The system is not perfect, but we shall work hard to make it better.
There is another important point, which my hon. Friend the Member for Argyll and Bute (Brendan O'Hara) was going to raise, but unfortunately he cannot be here today. There are real problems recruiting local crews to work on boats, on the west coast in particular. For some time that has been addressed by employing staff, notably from the Philippines, who have a specific employment classification. Without them, some boats simply would not be able to put to sea. We already see the impact of that.