London, 1 November 2021 (PA Media/dpa/MIA) - The British government has declined to set out whether there are contingency plans if France carries out threats in the fishing rights row, or when it understands the French deadline to be. The government in Paris has threatened harsh measures if Britain does not grant more French fishermen a fishing licence for British waters by Tuesday. Asked on Monday if there are contingency plans in case of disruption, a government spokesman said: "We are keen for France to take a step back from the threats." He pointed towards Foreign Secretary Liz Truss' warning that Britain could launch dispute settlement proceedings under the Brexit trade deal, and Brexit minister Lord Frost's threat of retaliatory "practical responses." Questioned for a second time if there are contingency plans, he said: "It is the French who have issued the threat, we're keen to continue to abide by the TCA (Trade and Cooperation Agreement) and continue to look at licences and the validity of them as they're applied for." Asked whether it was clear if the deadline for an agreement on licences set by France for Tuesday was at the beginning or the end of the day, the spokesman said: "That would be a question for the French." Pressed what the British understanding of the deadline is, he said: "It's the French who have set out the timescale as per their threat, our focus is on trying to work with them and hope they step back from the threats they've made."