asked the Minister -of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the event of objections from the Common Market Commission to his measures for the protection of fish stocks off the west coast of Scotland or elsewhere becoming the subject of court proceedings in the Court of the Community, if he intends to contest such proceedings; and if he will, in that event undertake to inform the House of the general basis upon which counsel representing his Department will be instructed to resist any such lawsuit.

The Government will take whatever action may be necessary to protect the fish stocks around the United Kingdom and will continue to keep the House fully informed of developments on the common fisheries policy.