§ Mr. BercowTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those United Kingdom organisations that will be consulted in consequence of Com (99) 382, on closer co-operation with the fishing industry; what Her Majesty's Government's policy was on such closer co-operation; and if he will make a statement. [96501]
§ Mr. MorleyThe proposal in Corn (99) 382 on closer dialogue with the fishing industry concerns financial matters arising from the European Commission's reorganisation of its Advisory Committee on Fisheries (ACF) so as to focus on communication and consultation with EC-level rather than national organisations. It will be for the European organisations represented on the ACF to consult as they consider necessary with national organisations in individual member states. Representations on the ACF cover fishermen, fish farmers, processors and wholesalers, trade unions, and consumer, environment and development non-governmental organisations. Representatives of the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations and the Scottish Fishermen's Federation have been included as Europeche nominees in the plenary committee and working groups of the ACF.
The Government welcome ways of strengthening the dialogue with the industry and broadening the range of activity. Thus I have made clear that consultation at the regional level must be strengthened in parallel with consultation through the ACF.