HC Deb 30 January 1984 vol 53 cc95-6W
Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the success and implementation of the policing and control being exercised by all European Economic Community countries with fishing interests since the signing of the common fisheries policy in December 1982.

Mr. MacGregor

It is the responsibility of each individual Member State to enforce the provisions of the common fisheries policy within its own fishery limits. As my hon. Friend knows, one of our top priorities is to ensure that enforcement is effective in relation to all Community fishermen. My right hon. Friend and I have said on many occasions that the key to this is the European Commission's inspectorate of inspectorates whose main task is to ensure that all member states apply the policy consistently and rigorously throughout the Community, and we have therefore been in the forefront in persistently pressing for progress on this issue. Seven Community inspectors have been appointed so far and inspections have already been made in a number of member states; the full complement of 13 inspectors is expected to be in post by the beginning of June. I am advised that there have been difficulties in recruiting suitably qualified personnel.

Mr. McQuarrie

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, during the discussions proposed to be held by European Economic Community Fisheries Ministers in Brussels on 31 January 1984, he will press for conclusions to be reached on specific fishing opportunities for the year 1984 and that the total allowed catches for cod and haddock are increased for the British fishing fleet.

Mr. Jopling

Yes. I will indeed press for conclusions to be reached on 1984 TACs and quotas. At the Council on 14 December I asked the Commission to seek to negotiate a greater availability of North sea cod for the Community in 1984 and this they undertook to do. I also registered our interest in securing a higher TAC for North sea haddock and this along with the question of cod will be taken up with the Norwegians at an appropriate stage.