(Cardiff
South and Penarth) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend is talking about the
import of different foods, as my hon. Friend the Member for
Stockton North () just mentioned. Is she aware of the specific
situation for the UK overseas territories and whether or not they
are being properly considered in the transition arrangements? I am
aware of serious concerns from the Falkland
Islands in particular in respect of their squid industry,
which provides much of the calamari in European markets. They are
concerned about whether those concerns are being heard in the
negotiations and about whether or not at the end of December they
will face a cliff edge that could be devastating to their economy,
which relies so heavily on fish products. Does my hon. Friend agree
that the UK Government ought to be standing up for the
Falkland Islandsand their fishing industry and
ensuring that they are able to continue the excellent trade that
they have with other parts of the EU?
(Manchester Central) (Lab/Co-op): My hon. Friend makes
an excellent point about squid in the Falkland
Islands that I was not aware of. It is important to bear
that in mind. We are talking about the Conservative party losing
its reputation, whether on business or agriculture; those of us
who are halfway through the new series of “The Crown” will also
be reminded of the importance of the Falkland
Islands to Conservative Members. One would have thought
that that would be at the forefront of their minds.
:I hope that the Minister will be able to address this
point when she responds, because my understanding is that the
Falkland Islands have been raising their
concerns. There are meetings this week with the Minister for the
Overseas Territories, but the Falkland Islands
have written to the Prime Minister about this issue several times
and my understanding is that there has not yet been a formal
reply to the substantive concerns that they have raised. That is
very concerning, because it leaves them in a great deal of
uncertainty about what will happen post the end of December.
: My hon. Friend is absolutely right. This statutory
instrument should and could be an opportunity to clarify those
matters but, as I said at the beginning of my speech, it will
take provisions away without any of us understanding what will
replace them. That is causing a huge amount of uncertainty, not
just here in the UK but, as my hon. Friend says, in the UK
territories. I am sure that, given its closeness to the EU,
Gibraltar will be worried as well.
: My hon.
Friend the Member for Cardiff South and Penarth () is absolutely right. I was grateful to visit the
Falkland Islands during the squid-fishing season
as a guest of the Falkland Islands Government.
Squid fishing is a major part of their economy. It is an utterly
inevitable consequence of what has happened that our overseas
territories—my hon. Friend the shadow Minister mentioned
Gibraltar as well—will feel out on a limb. We need to be able to
assure them, as soon as possible, that they are not out on a
limb. That assurance is still not forthcoming with, as my right
hon. Friend the Member for Leeds Central () has said, 39 days to go. These are territories that
choose to be British and they are not getting the kind of
reassurance that they desire...
: I raised a serious point in an intervention on my
hon. Friend the Member for Manchester Central () about the Falkland Islands. Does the
right hon. Member agree that the UK family is a large one,
including our overseas territories, and we ought to be backing
the fishing fleet in the Falkland Islands that
are trying to export squid and calamari to the EU? Will he join
me on a cross-party basis in urging the UK Government to address
the concerns of the Falkland Islands?
(Wokingham) (Con): Of course I hope we can do things
to help the Falkland Islands as we have over
many years. They are clearly part of our family, and blood and
treasure have been shed to ensure that they are part of our
family, so I above all think that we should do all we can...
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