§ Mr. Robert Atkinsasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is in a position to make a statement about the progress of the European Community's examination of the Sea Fish Industry Authority's development programme in accordance with article 93(2) of the treaty of Rome.
§ Mr. MacGregorI am pleased to be able to announce that the European Commission has now given its approval to over three-quarters of the authority's development programme. This means that the authority will now be able to press ahead with its campaign to improve the marketing of fish in the United Kingdom, for which the Government have pledged £7.9 million towards the authority's proposed spending of £14 million over the first three years.
This is very good news indeed. The authority can now start its multi-million pound campaign to get fish increasingly on the menu.
A substantial amount of money will be spent on specific schemes to improve the freshness and quality of fish from the moment it is taken from the sea to the point of sale to the customer. It took both the authority and the Government some time to work out an effective and commercially-oriented programme, and I am delighted that it now has the approval of the Commission.
The first instalment of this Exchequer contribution will be paid next month. Discussion will be resumed early next year on the few remaining items in respect of which the Commission has sought additional information. Our aim will be to bring these to a satisfactory outcome as quickly as possible.