EU Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Fishing Industry

Debate between George Eustice and Drew Hendry

Thursday 14th January 2021 Commons Chamber

[Drew Hendry (Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and Strathspey) (SNP) [V]]

We already know that if the period of disruption that we are witnessing is extended, European consumers will seek alternative suppliers and will be unlikely to return to Scottish suppliers. When asked how long it will take to sort the problems, the Secretary of State’s ministerial colleague, the hon. Member for Banff and Buchan (David Duguid), said on the radio this morning, “How long is a piece of string?” Does the Secretary of State think that that is an acceptable answer for an industry that is facing what it describes as a “catastrophe”?

[George Eustice]

We are working very hard to make sure that that piece of string is as short as possible by having regular daily meetings with industry to try to iron out these problems.