HC Deb 16 June 1992 vol 209 c454W
Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the administrative costs involved in enforcing the days at sea restrictions contained in the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill.

Mr. Curry

The Bill's explanatory and financial memorandum indicates that the cost of administration and enforcement is provisionally estimated at £0.7 million in 1992–93, £2.3 million in 1993–94 and £1.4 million in 1994–95.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will press for other member states to adopt uniform days at sea regulations in line with those he proposes for the British fishing industry.

Mr. Curry

I confirm that we shall be pressing hard for other member states to reduce their fishing effort as part of their 1993–96 multi-annual guidance programme.

Mr. Steen

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will bring forward amendments to the Sea Fish (Conservation) Bill to provide for the effect of bad weather on a fishing vessel's days at sea quota.

Mr. Curry

Days at sea will be allocated to fishing vessels on the basis of their 1991 track records and it will be possible for fishermen to appeal if they think that their record has been depressed by exceptionally bad weather in that year. Once initial allocations have been made, they will not be affected by bad weather in subsequent years.