§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in(a) EU countries and (b) Norway to protect the future of low-impact fishing methods throughout the fishing nations. [35263]
211W
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 29 January 2002, Official Report, column 244W.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent assessment she has made of the requirements of the Sea Fisheries Committee in relation to(a) their regulatory framework and (b) their management budget and regime. [35262]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the answers given to him on 21 December 2001, Official Report, column 268W and 5 December 2001, Official Report, column 399W, and to the hon. Member for Congleton (Mrs. Winterton) on 25 January 2002, Official Report, column 1162W.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in EU member states on the impact of(a) minimum mesh sizes and (b) minimum landing sizes on hake stocks in (i) area VII and (ii) area VIII. [35259]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 February 2002]: Following discussions in which the UK and other EU member states working in ICES Area VII or VIII took part the Commission issued an emergency Regulation on 14 June 2001. This Regulation which expires at the end of February has the effect of increasing the towed gear mesh size from 70mm to 100mm in Area VIII and from 80mm to 100mm in Area VII. Minimum landing size for hake was not changed.
Following discussions with the member states last month the life of these rules is to be extended. It will be some time before their long term benefits can be assessed.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions she has had with her counterparts in(a) the EU member states and (b) Norway to secure a long term cod recovery programme. [35260]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 February 2002]: As a result of very difficult negotiations between the European Commission, member states and Norway an agreement was reached in June 2001 about stage two of the North sea cod recovery programme. This agreement deals with improved technical conservation measures and came into operation in the North sea on 1 January 2002. Currently, the Council of Ministers is discussing a new proposal from the Commission for a multi-annual recovery programme for cod and hake stocks.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress she has made in securing a plan for the long-term sustainability of the North sea cod industry beyond spring 2003. [35261]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 11 February 2002]: At the Fisheries Council in December 2001 the Commission presented a proposal for a Council Regulation establishing 212W measures for the recovery of fish stocks threatened with collapse. This provides for a multi-annual recovery plan for cod and hake stocks. Discussions are continuing.
§ Andrew GeorgeTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) whether the Government's fishing decommissioning scheme will be funded through budgets solely within the gift of her Department; [36636]
(2) whether the moneys allocated through the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Objective 1 Programme to support her Department's commitment to a £6 million decommissioning scheme will be restored. [36638]
§ Mr. Morley[holding answer 25 February 2002]: I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14 February 2002, Official Report, column 653W.