§ Mr. ColvinTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider setting up a body run by his Department to administer and monitor the proposed molluscan shellfish regulations.
§ Mr. GummerThe regulation of molluscan shellfisheries —including deposit controls, the granting of several orders and the approval of proposed byelaws of the Sea Fisheries Committees—are already matters for the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Proposals are expected soon from the European Commission dealing with intra-Community trade in live bivalve molluscs and safeguards to public health. We shall examine the resource needs for administration and monitoring in the light of the proposals made but at present see no need to create a separate, single and new body for this purpose.