§ Mr. Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the fishing industry on his Department's latest proposals for alterations to(a) fishing licences generally and (b) external water licences. [50546]
§ Mr. MorleyWe have invited the fishing industry to comment on the following proposals for changes in licensing arrangements: the introduction of new licensing arrangements to limit access to the UK's scallop fisheries (consultation letter issued on 11 June and comments invited by 14 August 1998); the aggregation of whitefish licences with pelagic licences for the purposes of introducing pelagic freezer trawlers into the UK fishing fleet (consultation letter issued on 2 July and comments invited by 31 August 1998); more flexible and transparent arrangements for external waters licensing (consultation letter issued on 15 June and comments invited by 17 August 1998).
Representations on each of these proposals are being submitted to the Ministry and copies will be available to the public through the MAFF Library at 3 Whitehall Place (West Block) London SW1A 2AH after the consultation process has been completed.
Additionally, and as announced on 17 December 1997, Official Report, columns 336–49, Fisheries Departments are holding a series of meetings with representatives of the principal fishermen's organisations to review the operation of the current licensing arrangements for fishing vessels.