HC Deb 21 November 1990 vol 181 cc134-5W
Mr. David Porter

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council held in Brussels on 20 November.

Mr. Curry

I represented the United Kingdom at the Council of Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 20 November with my noble Friend Lord Strathclyde, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland.

We secured the maintenance of the dual system for herring and price adjustments which should assist the continued orderly marketing of the Scottish herring catch. We kept other price changes within reasonable bounds.

Despite long discussion, the Council was unable to agree on new technical conservation measures. We emphasised the need for early decisions, but the Council concluded that further work was required. We shall continue to press hard for progress on this.

The Council also considered amendments to the fisheries structure regulation discussing the balance of the various measures proposed and remitted the proposal for further consideration at official level.

The Council also agreed that the Commission should press ahead with work to harmonise member states' laws in the Mediterranean and to develop improved research arrangements, as a first step in developing a common fisheries policy in the Mediterranean.

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