§ Mr. SalmondTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on his policy on the European Commission's proposals to reform the common fisheries policy, (COM (92) 387 final):
(2) what assessment he has made of the European Commission's proposal to repeal Council Regulation (EEC) No. 170/83, and of the implications of such a reform of the common fisheries policy for the Scottish fishing industry; and if he will make a statement;
(3) what action he will take to ensure consideration of the interests of the Scottish fishing fleet when considering changes in the common fisheries policy.
§ Sir Hector Monro[holding answer 5 November 1992]: Fisheries Ministers agreed at the Councils held on 3 April and 9 June 1992 to maintain key elements of the common fisheries policy including relative stability and access to the 12 mile zone and the Shetland box. These elements have benefited our fishermen over the last 10 years. The chief changes in the Commission's proposed revision of Council Regulation 170/83 relate to multi-annual programmes integrating permitted catches and fleet structure, control, licensing and changes in the balance of decision making between the Council and the Commission.
We are considering the Commission's detailed proposal against the background of the earlier Council decisions with the overall objective of ensuring that fishermen in all parts of the UK can make of all the fishing opportunities obtained for them in 1983.