questions raised over legality of move
MP calls for action after sale ban on quota rights
Published:
UK Government ministers were challenged last night over their failure so far to take legal steps to smash the Scottish Government’s shock ban on the sale of fish quota rights to English or foreign companies, despite claims it may be illegal.
The failure caused SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson to claim: “The fact of the matter is that there is no serious dispute that issues of quota management are entirely within the province of the Scottish Parliament and the Scottish Government.”
The Moray MP spoke out after Scotland Minister David Cairns stopped short of labelling the ban illegal and promising legal action.
Calls for enforcement action came from Yorkshire Tory MP Robert Goodwill, who protested that the sale ban means quotas can be transferred into Scotland but not out. During Scottish questions in the Commons he warned: “The first minister (Alex Salmond) is getting a bit big for his boots and he is exceeding his powers.
“Will you take legal action to enforce the rule of law?”
Lib Dem shadow Scottish secretary Michael Moore said: “Does the minister believe that the moratorium is actually legal?”
Mr Cairns said imposing the ban without warning was “deeply irresponsible” – but did not claim it was illegal.
UK Fisheries Minister Jonathan Shaw said he had been given no detail on how the Scottish Government will enforce the action.
Replying to an earlier series of written questions, he said: “In the absence of that information it is impossible to make a full judgment of the legality of the moratorium, but the preliminary advice that I have received is that it may be unlawful.”
Mr Robertson said: “David Cairns needs to understand that the future of Scotland's fishing communities and the industry that sustains them depends crucially on the fleet having access to sufficient quota.”
