§ 10. Mr. CouchmanTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if United Kingdom fishermen will be able to continue to fish as at present under the proposed regulations for the western waters applicable from 1 January 1996. [31171]
§ Mr. BaldryHer Majesty's Government have negotiated arrangements that will enable current fishing opportunities to continue to be exploited.
§ Mr. CouchmanGiven the importance of enforcement to our fishermen, can my hon. Friend say what resources have been made available for that purpose by the Government?
§ Mr. BaldryWe spend a substantial amount on fisheries enforcement—some £25 million a year, including some £19 million a year on enforcement at sea and aerial surveillance. United Kingdom fisheries protection vessels spend more than 3,000 days a year on patrol and undertake some 5,000 inspections of vessels from all member states and third countries fishing in our waters, because we are determined to ensure that the fisheries regime is enforced firmly and fairly throughout our waters.
§ Mr. SalmondWill the new Fisheries Minister consult Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food files and see whether there is any evidence in any fishery internationally of a precedent for effective supervision and control of the Spanish deep-water fleet? If he finds no such precedent, will he then conclude that, as Fisheries Minister, it is his duty to recommend that there might well be some aspects of the common fisheries policy that would be suitable for revision at the intergovernmental conference?
§ Mr. BaldryThe hon. Gentleman can rest assured that we will ensure that every fleet is properly enforced, 510 whether it be Spanish or any other fleet. The fisheries regime around our waters will be firmly and fairly enforced.