§ Mr. Stephen Rossasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now amend the Immature Bass Order 1981 (S.I., 1981, No. 535) to provide for the minimum size of 32 cm. to continue after 30 April 1983 on a regional basis if not considered appropriate nationally.
§ Mr. Buchanan-SmithThere is no current scientific evidence which would justify such a step. However, scientists in my Department are currently engaged in a programme of work designed to show the overall fishing pressure on the bass stock and to indicate whether further measures, or any modification of the minimum size provisions, are necessary to allow exploitation of the stock without endangering its future viability. I shall be considering whether changes in the existing legislation are necessary, on a national or regional basis, when the results of these studies are available.