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Delegation Reports
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION FROM ICELAND:
6-9 JUNE 2006
Delegation
Ms Asta Moller
Independence Party
Mr Kristjan Moller
Social Democratic Party
Mrs Arnbjorg Sveinsdottir
Progressive Party
Mrs Belinda Theriault
Secretary
This distinguished delegation led by Ms Moller arrived at Heathrow on
Tuesday, 6 June and was met on arrival by Mr Jim Rodgers, Deputy Secretary,
British Group IPU. They were accommodated at the Marriot County Hall Hotel.
The programme started that same afternoon with a call on Professor Cope,
Director, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology who welcomed
the opportunity to speak to the delegation. He explained how the research
undertaken by his office is provided on an impartial basis in association
with various learned institutions. It does not associate with NGOs or
other bodies seeking to influence decisions of parliament. His office
has close links with other Nordic parliaments and he has plans to make
an official visit to Iceland later in the year.
The planned meeting with the Foreign Affairs Committee was cancelled at
the last moment due to an unavoidable overrun of its regular Tuesday afternoon
meeting. Lord Dubs very kindly stepped in at very short notice and as
Chair of the Europe Enlargement All Party Group was able to speak to the
visitors about the benefits and drawbacks of EU membership.
In the evening, Derek Conway MP, Vice-Chair of the BGIPU, entertained
the guests to drinks on the terrace before hosting the official welcoming
dinner in the Churchill Room with other members of the group.
Wednesday started with a two-hour round table discussion with members
of the British Group chaired by Austin Mitchell MP, Chair of the British-Icelandic
All Party Parliamentary Group.
In her opening statement, Mrs Moller revealed that the Prime Minister
of Iceland had unexpectedly announced his resignation. He would in the
fullness of time have been expected to hand over the premiership to the
Independence Party, as part of the governing coalition agreement, but
his Progressive Party’s poor showing in recent local elections seemed
to have forced his hand.
Nevertheless, it was a shock to everyone and almost caused the cancellation
of the visit as it was announced the day before their departure.
The discussions then focused on the present UK-Iceland relationship and
how it has flourished over the last thirty years, given its low starting
point at the end of the “Cod War” in 1976.
The Icelandic Kroner, which is not tied to any particular major currency,
had become too strong and a recent devaluation is now helping to stabilise
the economy. However, interest rates are still high at 12.5 per cent,
and this is attracting a lot of foreign investment.
The talks then turned to international affairs including the EU and NATO.
The visitors said that Iceland was unlikely to join the EU in the near
future but any movement by Norway in that direction may cause them to
look at the situation more closely.
Security is a matter of growing anxiety. Iceland is a member of NATO -
their peacekeepers train with the Norwegian Army and at present are deployed
in Pristina and Afghanistan. Nevertheless, the recent US announcement
that it is to close the military base at Keflavik has come as a surprise
and there is a general feeling of vulnerability and concern that Iceland
could become an international terrorist target.
Following the discussions, the delegation attended Prime Minister’s
Questions before moving on to Lancaster House where John Heppell MP from
the Whip’s office hosted the Government Lunch in honour of the delegation.
In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Head of the London Branch
of the Icelandic Landsbaki UK, Mr Larus Welding. In the evening, the Rt
Hon Lord Foulkes of Cumnock very kindly hosted a pre-theatre supper at
the Imperial China Restaurant before attending a performance of Guys and
Dolls at the Piccadilly Theatre.
Thursday began with a tour of the Palace of Westminster led by Viscount
Craigavon, Secretary of the British-Icelandic All Party Parliamentary
Group. This was quickly followed by a meeting with the All Party Group
on Fisheries chaired by Austin Mitchell MP with Baroness Wilcox, Joan
Humble MP and Angus MacNeil MP.
The chair gave a quick resumé of the British fishing industry following
the “Cod War” when the British fishing fleet found itself
at a distinct disadvantage. It was forced to fish in the Irish Sea the
traditional fishing grounds of the Dutch and Belgium fleets.
The British Government would not spend money on up-grading the fleet,
and as a consequence the industry could not get secondary funding from
the EU.
The visitors explained that fishing stocks around Iceland are fairly plentiful.
At the time of the “Cod War”, the catch was 50,000 tons per
annum and it now stands at 105,000 tons.
The annual quota is regulated by the industry and no one company is permitted
to catch more than 12 per cent of the overall quota.
However, recent research indicates that Minke Whale has grown to around
70,000 in number and they are eating more cod than previously thought.
This is one of the reasons why they want to reintroduce limited whaling
in the North Sea. Also Russian and other fleets are further depleting
stocks by fishing just outside the Icelandic limits where International
laws do not apply.
In response, members of the group pointed out that the environmental lobby
was very strongly against the culling of whales and other mammals that
prey on the fishing stock. Technology helped fishermen to ravish the fishing
stocks of the world and this has conversely helped the environmentalist
argument.
When asked about the growth of fish farming, the delegation replied that
they thought that there would soon be two distinct markets, and whilst
fish farming is growing, it is now possible to farm Cod, there would always
be a market for wild fish.
At midday, the delegation made a courtesy call on Sylvia Heal MP, First
Deputy Chair, Ways and Means and Deputy Speaker, before moving on to an
official parliamentary lunch hosted by Andrew Rosindell MP, Vice-Chair
of the British-Icelandic All-Party Group.
After lunch, the delegation met Jim Dowd MP, Chair of the All-Party Small
Shops Group. His group had produced a report that had received wide media
coverage both at home and overseas.
Iceland’s small retailers are facing similar difficulties and the
delegation was interested in the Governments reaction to the report and
subsequent follow-up action.
The last meeting of the visit in parliament was with Rt Hon Lord Baker
of Dorking who very kindly invited the delegation to afternoon tea in
the House of Lords. In the evening, the delegation attended a dinner in
their honour at the residence of the Icelandic Ambassador His Excellency
Mr Sverrir Haukur.
On Friday morning, the delegation had time to make only one final visit
to the Evelina Children’s Hospital which is part of Guy’s
and St Thomas’ Hospital complex.
Mrs Moller, who holds the brief on medical matters within her party, had
read about this new hospital and its innovative approach to children’s
care and was extremely keen to visit it. The delegation returned home
to Iceland on Friday afternoon.
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