§ Mr. GillTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he estimates the European Union will institute a common fishing permit system. [3311]
§ Mr. BaldryCouncil regulations 3760/92 and 1627/94 provide the framework for Community licence and permit systems to enable member states to regulate fishing activities. They are the basis for the detailed measures in western waters introduced on 1 January 1996. The United Kingdom fishing industry is therefore already familiar with these arrangements, which involved licences issued by UK fisheries departments. They do not entail a European fleet run from Brussels.