§ Lord O'Haganasked Her Majesty's Government:
What problems Spanish accession to the EEC has caused the common fisheries policy and the British fisheries inspectorate.
§ The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Lord Belstead)The arrangements negotiated with Spain and incorporated in the Act of Accession fully safeguarded the future operation of the common fisheries policy. Spanish vessels will be subject to all the provisions of the Community's conservation and control regulations, as well as to the specific control arrangements provided for in the Act of Accession in relation to fishing by Spanish vessels in the waters of the other member states. It will be the responsibility of the British Sea Fisheries Inspectorates, the Royal Navy Fisheries Protection Squadron and the Fishery Protection Service of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to monitor and enforce, as necessary, compliance with Community regulations by Spanish vessels fishing within British fishery limits. Although the number of Spanish vessels fishing within British fishery limits at any one time may be somewhat higher following accession than was previously the case, we foresee no particular new problems for our enforcement agencies and none has arisen to date.