§ Mr. MitchellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made on the introduction of measures to ensure that all British-registered fishing vessels maintain a real economic link with United Kingdom populations dependent on fisheries and related industries. [54383]
§ Mr. Nick BrownI am pleased to announce that, following on from the Prime Minister's exchange of letters with the President of the European Commission in June 1997, the Commission has now confirmed that our proposals for ensuring an economic link between UK flagged vessels and populations dependent on fisheries and related industries are compatible with Community law.
A new licence condition will be introduced with effect from 1 January 1999 requiring all vessels to demonstrate an economic link with the UK by one of the following means:
A. landing at least 50 per cent. by weight of the vessel's catch of quota stocks into the UK,or
B. employing a crew of whom at least 50 per cent. are normally resident in a UK coastal area,Or
incurring a given level of operating expenditure in the UK for goods and services provided in UK coastal areas,468W Or
D. demonstrating an economic link by other means (including combinations of the above) providing sufficient benefit to populations dependent on fisheries and related industries.A paper setting out the new economic link requirements has been deposited in the Library of the House. Fisheries Departments will be writing to industry shortly with further details concerning the introduction of the new arrangements.