§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what practical steps the Government are taking to implement the new measures of Council regulation (EC) No. 2719/95 amending Council regulation 3699/93; and when it intends to introduce an early retirement and compensation scheme for fishermen as prescribed in the regulation; [32532]
(2) how many EU member states have replied positively to Council regulation EC 2719/95 of 20 November 1995; in what terms Her Majesty's Government have replied; and if Her Majesty's Government are participating in the Commission's study of practical arrangements for complementing the new measures. [32534]
§ Mr. BaldryThe Government did not support Council regulation 2719/95, which gives member states the option of using part of their existing financial instrument for fisheries guidance—FIFG—funds to finance early retirement schemes and make payments to crews of decommissioned vessels. No additional EU money is available. The Government believe that FIFG funds should be concentrated on other priority areas, leaving member states' social security systems to deal with any employment consequences.
274WThe Government have no information on the number of EU member states implementing Council regulation 2719/95 and is not aware of any related Commission study of practical arrangements.