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AN SNP MSP has pressed the new Secretary of State for Scotland, Michael Moore, over Scottish representation in EU fisheries negotiations.
During Mr Moore’s meeting with Holyrood’s committee conveners, SNP North East MSP Maureen Watt urged him to allow the Scottish Fisheries secretary, Richard Lochhead, to take a more prominent role in the talks.
Scotland is home to the bulk of the UK’s fishing fleet, but the Fisheries Secretary has often been excluded from key talks or relegated to a minor role by the previous UK government.
Ms Watt said: “Scotland’s fishing fleet has taken a leading role in introducing innovative new conservation measures and there is a pressing need for a Scottish voice to be heard in EU fisheries negotiations. Given the greater importance to Scotland of the issue, I firmly believe that the Fisheries Secretary should be allowed to take a leading role in discussions.
“I welcomed the opportunity to put that point to the new Secretary of State and I hope that the new UK government will give it serious consideration rather than the obstinate refusal to do so that we saw under the previous administration.
“It was a positive meeting where he seemed to take on board what was discussed, and I hope that the new Secretary of State will now go on to take action on the issues that were raised with him.
“The SNP Government recognises that fishing is a vital industry for Scotland and given that it was once described by a Westminster government as ‘expendable’, there is a clear need for Scotland to take a leading role in standing up for the industry in Europe.”
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