Falkland Islands: Fisheries Exports Tariffs

Lord Purvis of Tweed Excerpts

Thursday 10th July 2025 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The noble Earl raises an important point. Obviously, as part of the EU reset, our bilateral relationships with European Union members are key. The noble Earl is right about the ownership structures of the fishing companies, although for the record it is 51% that is owned by the Falklands and 49% that is owned by the Spanish. The Falklands always have a controlling share.

[Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)]

My Lords, regarding credibility and consistency, because the previous Government forgot about the Falklands at the start of the Brexit negotiations, I asked the then Foreign Secretary, the noble Lord, Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton, with all of his great authority and prestige, if he would resolve the issue with regard to the,

“£15 million a year to be Spanish-flagged vessels as a result of the lack of access to the EU market”.

I asked him that

“British fishermen on British vessels fishing in British waters will not to have to do so under a Spanish flag”.

His reply to me:

“I will certainly take the noble Lord’s point away”.—[Official Report, 5/12/23; col. 1387.]


He did, and he kept it away; I never heard back. I commend this Government for seeking additions to the TCA—for example, the SPS negotiations now under way—but what is preventing our Government now commencing discussions for an additional agreement to the TCA with regards to resolving the issue that the party to the right created?

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

The noble Lord is right: we are trying to fix a problem that, yet again, we were left by the previous Government. The European Union is clear that the TCA cannot be reopened in terms of its geographical consequences. On additional agreements, we are working very hard to make sure that the EU reset has a positive impact on all aspects of British interests, and that includes on the Falkland Islands. I cannot promise to come back to him—

[Lord Purvis of Tweed (LD)]

Do not take it away!

[Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent (Lab)]

I will take it away, but I promise I will also come back.