STEVENSON SLAMS LORDS FISHING BETRAYAL

Banff & Buchan MSP Stewart Stevenson has decried the House of Lord’s refusal to acknowledge the need for Scotland’s Fishing industry to be supported during current high fuel prices.

The House of Lord’s report rejects proposals for fishermen to be given support to keep them in business for the duration of the current high price of fuel, instead recommending that high fuel costs and the bankruptcy that will follow for many should be used to drive fishermen out of business in order to address Europe wide over-capacity.

Commenting, Mr Stevenson said:

“I am outraged that the House of Lords has chosen to betray Banff & Buchan and the whole of Scotland’s fishing industry in this manner. This report yet again shows the absolute contempt in which Westminster holds Scottish interests.

“The report itself acknowledges that Scotland has made huge cuts to its fishing fleet to meet the problem of over-capacity and has now reached a sustainable level. For the committee to recommend that Scotland’s fishing fleet should be driven towards massive cuts through high fuel prices because other European fishing fleets have failed to reduce their fleets is simply staggering.

“The House of Lords is effectively recommending that our fishing industry should be punished for its responsible attitude. This could have devastating consequences for many families in Banff & Buchan as boats get driven out of business by Westminster’s negligence.

“The SNP government has promised to make resources available to help Scotland’s fishermen for the next three years, but without support from the UK government, there will be a limit to how much can be done”.