Oral Answers to Questions

Alistair Carmichael Excerpts

Thursday 10th October 2024 Commons Chamber

[Louise Haigh]

I am very grateful to the hon. Member for raising that important issue. I will take it away and write to him.

[Mr Alistair Carmichael (Orkney and Shetland) (LD)]

7. What discussions she has had with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency on maritime safety breaches which occur outside UK territorial waters but within the exclusive economic zone.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mike Kane)]

The Secretary of State has met the chief executive of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and this matter was discussed. The MCA will continue to monitor this important issue, as well as follow up on the actions already taken since the Westminster Hall debate on maritime safety last April.

[Mr Carmichael]

If we continue to see this as a matter of legality, nothing will ever change, and certainly not in any decent timeframe. We have to focus on what we can do practically to end the sort of attacks that trawlers from Shetland, such as the Alison Kay and Defiant, have been subject to in recent years. Will the Minister look at the experience of authorities in Ireland, who have managed to tackle the reckless conduct of trawlers like the Pesorsa Dos and keep their fishermen safe?

[Mike Kane]

I will undertake to look at the authorities in Ireland. I had a recent visit to the Orkney Islands in the right hon. Member’s constituency. I would wish to catch up with him about that and I am happy to meet him to discuss this matter further.