§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister if she will define the vital interests of British fishing without the protection of which she specified that no common fisheries settlement was acceptable at the European Council meeting.
§ The Prime MinisterThe United Kingdom's aims in the negotiations towards a684W revised common fisheries policy are an adequate zone of exclusive access and preferential arrangements beyond; satisfactory quotas; a comprehensive and effective Community conservation policy; and a control system which enables us to police our own waters.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Prime Minister if she will set out full details of the discussions she had on fishing at the European Council meeting.
§ The Prime MinisterThe Presidency conclusions issued at the end of the meeting of the European Council in Luxembourg stated that the Council
while noting that an agreement existed on the need for adoption as swiftly as possible of the decisions necessary for the introduction of a common fisheries policy together with a number of basic features of such a policy found that there was still disagreement on the questions concerning the principle of equal access. It agreed that the examination of this matter would be resumed by the Council composed of Ministers for Fisheries.Beyond that I have nothing to add to the statement I made to the House on 29 April.