I’ve seen the worst of European fisheries negotiations, as the Cabinet Secretary has, but I have to say it’s complete codswallop—if that’s not the worst pun in the world—to say that it has not been a success. Because back in the mid 1970s the peak of cod in the North sea was landed at 270,000 tonnes. By 2006, it was 44,000 tonnes due to overcapacity and overfishing for a diminishing stock. It is now, by the way, back to 165,000 tonnes and the Marine Conservation Society is now looking to actually brand it as fit for sale on UK shelves. So, when they get it right, they get it right.

But could I ask the Cabinet Secretary, first, that there will be no withdrawal from actually sustainable fisheries, whether it’s in Welsh waters or in partnership with the UK, but secondly, how feasible is it, in the discussions with the DEFRA Secretary of State, that repatriation of quota to UK fishermen and skippers will happen? Because there are certainly UK fishermen who fish in other EU waters—roughly a proportion of one in four. Are we going to say that we’re taking their quotas away in order to get rid of people out of our waters? What happens to Scottish fishermen who have quotas and licensing in England’s waters? Are we going to push the south-west’s fishermen out of Welsh waters? These are difficult questions, and for anybody to pretend that this is as simple as ‘Give us our fish back’ is a joke.