§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what progress has been made by the European Commission in completing the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002; and what the latest anticipated timescale is for the completion of this review. [184159]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 July 2004]The Commission has sought and secured a delay in the production of a report into the effectiveness of access restrictions, which was originally intended to be made available by 31 December 2003. During 2003 and 2004, the Commission secured agreement on the scope of the review, established a scientific expert group to agree its398W terms of reference and established scientific expert subgroups to conduct reviews and draft reports for evaluation of each access rule. The Commission's scientific expert groups first met in April 2004, the subgroups are now preparing their reports. No revised timescale for the Article 19 review has been agreed, but the Commission's final report and corresponding proposals are expected before the end of 2004.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) submissions and (b) representations have been made to her by the Scottish Executive in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002. [184160]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 July 2004]In the course of routine business the Scottish Executive has made numerous written and oral representations to Defra on several aspects of the Article 19 review, concentrating on the implications of the review for the Shetland Box access arrangements. Representations from Scottish Executive have included views on the proper scope and timetabling of the review, the membership and terms of reference for the Commission's scientific expert groups, and the UK strategy for anticipating and handling proposals arising from the Commission's report, including effective stakeholder engagement and consultation.
The Scottish Executive provided Defra with detailed submissions on the effectiveness of the Shetland Box during the negotiations leading to the reformed framework regulation of the Common Fisheries Policy. No further submissions have been provided.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what(a) submissions and (b) representations she has made to the European Commission in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002. [184161]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 July 2004]UK submitted written comments on the scope of the Article 19 review, made necessary analytical data available to the Commission and offered active co-operation in the establishment and membership of necessary scientific expert working groups.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, in relation to the review of access rules referred to in Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002, she intends to seek to justify the continued existence of the Shetland Box in terms of conservation and sustainable exploitation objectives. [184162]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 July 2004]Yes, the UK agrees that the Shetland Box access conditions should be strengthened and updated but considers the Shetland Box arrangement to be a vital protection for an important ecosystem—and also believes its continuation is also justified in other terms.
§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether, in relation to the review of access rules referred to in 399W Article 19 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002, she intends to seek to justify the continued existence of the principle of relative stability in terms of conservation and sustainable exploitation objectives. [184163]
§ Mr. Bradshaw[holding answer 15 July 2004]No. The principle of relative stability is not being reviewed. Following working group discussions in 2003–04, it was agreed that the Article 19 review shall be limited to include the Shetland Box, the Plaice Box and certain access restrictions in the outermost territories of the Community.