§ Mr. David PorterTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has to now reduce discards and improve the conservation of fish stocks by amendment of the common fisheries policy; and if he will make a statement. [34394]
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§ Mr. BaldryThe Council of Ministers has asked the Commission to bring forward proposals which address the discarding problem. The Commission has also accepted an obligation to review the technical conservation measures applicable in both western waters and the north sea. Within the UK, our industry has been invited to put forward constructive ideas for consideration by the common fisheries policy review group. I shall take forward the work of this group over the coming months.