§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he has plans for augmenting the fishery protection service from 1 January 1983;
(2) whether he will initiate a survey of larger trawlers currently laid up to assess their value in fisheries protection work from 1 January 1983.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithOur fisheries protection service is properly equipped and sufficient for the task of enforcing a common fisheries policy from 1 January. It may be that nine member States will have to implement that policy on the basis of national measures, but such an action will not alter radically the nature of the regular task. The resources required are kept under review. Changes can be and are made when necessary.