§ Mr. BoswellTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the outcome of the Fisheries Council in Brussels on 28 November; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI attended the Council of Fisheries Ministers with my colleague Lord Sanderson, Minister of State, Scottish Office, in Brussels on 28 November 1988.
206WThe Council agreed the guide prices for 1989. We secured a significant change with the introduction, for 1989, of a seasonal adjustment in the guide price for herring. This together with the inclusion of herring in the carry-over premium scheme which we secured in October is a substantial improvement. It should enable our industry to take advantage of the EC market support mechanisms which they have been unable to do this year, so as to achieve more orderly marketing. For other products of interest to the United Kingdom the price adjustments, where made, are marginal.
The Council also had a preliminary exchange of views on the Commission's proposals for total allowable catches and quotas for 1989.