§ Mr. HayesTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult(a) representatives of the fishing industry and (b) Spanish officials to co-ordinate informal repurchase of quota-hopping fishing vessels or their licences. [29823]
§ Mr. MorleyThere have been opportunities over successive years for vessel owners to withdraw from the UK fleet under the decommissioning schemes which have been operated by the Fisheries Departments. There has also been an active market in vessels and vessel licences. So far as I am aware, these arrangements have been operated to the satisfaction of the parties to the transactions without the need for co-ordination by Government. However, if I received a request from those in the industry to promote co-ordination, I would be ready to consider it.